Explore planetary retrogrades in astrology. Understand their effects & meaning. Navigate these cosmic cycles for introspection, healing, growth & alignment with Edie our Astro-Energy writer.
Planetary retrogrades are key astrological events where planets exhibit an apparent backward motion from our Earthly vantage point. These are not actual physical reversals, but rather optical illusions that carry profound energetic implications.
In astrological practice, retrograde planets are associated with themes of introspection, potential delays, and the revisiting of past patterns or situations. Understanding the intricate dynamics of these retrograde cycles can empower individuals to align with natural cosmic rhythms and effectively navigate the energetic shifts they bring.
Popular online searches such as "retrograde effects on relationships," "planet retrograde meaning and impact," and "upcoming planetary retrograde dates and times" highlight the growing interest in this phenomenon."
Discover how to leverage this knowledge to enhance personal well-being, cultivate inner balance, and navigate these potent astrological phases with greater awareness and resilience. Understanding the impact of a retrograde planet can bring clarity to many life situations.
Our experienced Astro-Energy writer, Edie, provides comprehensive insights into how these planetary retrogrades directly influence daily life, offering practical strategies for working with their energies. Delve into the specifics of each planet in retrograde, and learn how to prepare for a retrograde...
What is Retrograde Season?
Here's the thing about what we refer to as "The Retrograde Seasons:"
- About 3/4 out of every year, SOMETHING is in retrograde. To this day, people still reel and cringe in shock when I say that, but that's literally been the rule ever since you were born. It's just that now, as we start to offer more rubber-meets-the-road guidance and optics in these quarterly reports, we'll be helping our Twisted Thistle Readers gain a sense of agency in how to navigate the Retrograde Seasons with more autonomy.
- Firstly, let's stop meeting retrogrades with a sense of dread! Too many lazy astrologers have trained us to show our best "oh noes!" faces anytime a retrograde is even mentioned. Why...?
- Because retrogrades are just the Universe inviting us into a challenge, that if met (again, if even ATTEMPTED) rewards you with healing, growth, empowerment, more capacity, more agency, and in the best of cases, more sense of resource as you become an even more effective healer, and contributor to the best possible future.
How Each Retrograde Season Guides Your Path Forward?
The Retrograde Season usually starts around springtime or early summer, and typically runs until January - February of the following year.
There's typically 3 Mercury Retrogrades every year: Springtime, Summer, and Autumn. While there ARE standard operating procedures with each (eg: during this time, try to avoid starting new contracts & agreements, tread carefully with communication -be more self-aware of your own communications, hold a bit more grace and patience for others- allow enough buffer to account for any possible logistic issues, be MUCH MORE mindful of technological and/or mechanical issues, etc), the healthiest way to interface with any Mercury retrograde is to:
1) Consider it as a Magnifying Glass that gives more focus to what you're probably supposed to be working on, and
2) Remember the rule of "Move Forward By Looking Back" which means:
3) If you're suddenly blocked, slowed, stifled, even if you get sick or injured DURING this time, instead of lamenting on what you're blocked on in that moment (yes, including fretting over how late you're going to be for that meeting because you suddenly had car trouble), immediately pivot from what you got blocked on and ask the universe "okay, then what do you want me TO focus on?" Sometimes (the easiest of the lessons) might be in direct relation to what you got blocked on.
In terms of "the three" Mercury retrogrades, think of them like this:
Spring:
Open-Book Notes on the upcoming "exam," which is to say the upcoming retrograde season. If stuff starts coming up here, might be a nudge from the universe that it's time to start working to address, resolve, or at least get ready to start working on growing and healing through.
Summer:
This is a re-tacking of your course. Were you right, in the springtime? Are you seeing things you anticipated needing to work on? Have other things come up since then that you'll want to be be present with healing through and/or growing from? Considering the other retrogrades active during this one, is Mercury lending any added focus (again, think “magnifying glass”) for anything coming up under the themes of the other planets?
Autumn:
Typically more of a "look-back, look forward;" What did you learn this year? What did you heal, grow? How does that make you stronger and ready for even more healing and growth next year?
What's the Deal with Retrogrades Anyway?
Think of it like this: Retrogrades are basically the Universe inviting us into a challenge with a payoff; the Universe says "hey, I know it looks like an intimidating hill, but if you can get to the top of it, you'll be more empowered, more healthy, and ready to grow even more next time this retrograde comes around!"
Most people view retrogrades with apprehension and dread because they feel like it's gonna interrupt "what they were trying to do" but in actuality, trying to identify what is specifically coming up for any given person, and trying to improve that part of one's life is actually conducive to "what you were trying to do."
The trick is to look at a few things:
- What does the retrograding planet represent? By knowing what it represents, you can determine what kind of challenges it might pose -AND what kind of empowerment you might attain through your own growth process, relational to these themes!
- What Zodiac Constellations is it passing through? What do those signs represent?
- What calendar-based Zodiac seasons is it passing through? These seasons are more present and contextual than we tend to notice.
- Are there any other retrogrades or astronomical events (eclipses, Lion's Gate, astrological aspects, etc) that could be defining an additional layer to the themes already present with the planet in retrograde, and the calendar-based Zodiac season(s) it's moving through.
- Are there any points on your Natal Chart that are coming into focus? (this is why it's helpful to work with an Astrology Specialist who has a good working knowledge of how the deeper parts of your natal chart relate to each other).
- What things are coming up in your life around that time that feel like pain points? What can work on, heal from, grow beyond, make different choices around, that will mitigate -or all out prevent- from you having to experience those pain-points ever again?
That's the basic de-mystified formula for how experienced astrologers interface with retrogrades! If you get agile enough at looking at these broad strokes, you can also get more granular by looking at things like what things are coming up for you under what moon phases, the spiritual correspondence of days of the week, if certain symbols, numbers, plants, animals are showing up with more consistency that might lend hints to what you may want to reflect upon!
Keep an eye out, as very soon we’ll be publishing a standalone “reference page” that explains the Planets, Zodiac Signs, as well as planetary aspects (square, conjunction, etc), as well as shorthand for what kind of things to keep in mind as we pass through each Zodiac season. For one, it’ll keep our quarterly content shorter, as well as empower you to examine and extract what you need to accompany these quarterly reports!
We'll be wrapping up the first "Ready-Check" of this year (and this new 3-Year period), of Mercury & Venus both retrograding first in Aries, then Pisces. During the retrogrades of Venus and Mercury, together, what should have been coming into focus is the final clearing out of that which would just get in your way in the next three year period of building towards what you’ve come to accomplish, and the question of gathering anything else that’s going to be useful to what you’re working towards in the next three years.
I cannot overstate the idea that working WITH the retrogrades truly empowers oneself. To quote Paulo Coelho’s book The Alchemist:
"When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it."
Through years of collecting data -including data from people who “don’t believe in Astrology”- I have seen too much evidence that supports just how much we are all affected by these energies, to the point that with a multitude of people being affected by these themes and influences naturally leads to connections and synchronicities that align with a person either swimming with or against the tide of what path they are supposed to be on, which of course is illuminated by self-reflection, self-awareness of the trine of mind, body, and spirit, and sometimes with a bit of navigational clarity offered by esoteric practitioners who act as technicians for deciphering how these influences intersect with how our thoughts and behaviors are affected.
Quick Tip: At Twisted Thistle Apothecary, we believe that aligning with cosmic energies doesn't just happen in the mind - it’s a full-body, spirit-driven experience. That’s why we offer thoughtfully chosen tools to support your retrograde journey.
Whether you're navigating Mercury’s communication curveballs or Venus’ heart-centered themes, consider incorporating:
- Healing Crystals like Black Tourmaline for grounding, Labradorite for insight, or Fluorite for clarity.
- Zodiac-Aligned Pendants to keep planetary energies close to your heart.
- Tarot & Oracle Decks to deepen reflection and receive intuitive guidance.
Each piece in our collection is selected to help you feel more grounded, connected, and empowered as you move through these potent astrological shifts.
Embracing Retrograde Season with Awareness and Intention
Navigating the cyclical currents of "Retrograde Season" doesn't have to be daunting. As Edie explains, these periods, marked by the apparent backward motion of planets, are invitations for introspection and growth, not harbingers of doom.
Understanding that planetary retrogrades occur frequently throughout the year, especially with Mercury's three annual cycles, allows us to shift our perspective. Instead of dread, we can embrace the opportunity to "move forward by looking back," focusing on reflection and healing. By understanding which planets are in retrograde, and the zodiac signs they traverse, we can gain valuable insight into the challenges and opportunities presented.
In essence, retrograde periods act as a magnifying glass, highlighting areas for personal development. They encourage us to address pain points and make conscious choices for future well-being. By recognizing the energetic influences of planetary retrogrades, and aligning with their rhythms, we can harness their transformative power. As Edie emphasizes, working with these cycles empowers us, allowing the universe to conspire in our favor. Understanding planetary retrogrades is understanding the universe's natural rhythms.
Stay tuned for more astro-guides, zodiac insights, and retrograde support to help you move forward - by looking back!
With herbal power,
Edie and the whole Twisted Thistle team