Working with Retrogrades

Retrogrades has become such a troublesome word. Who hasn't heard someone mutter about Mercury being in retrograde?

While retrogrades can be intense they don't have to be filled with such dread from everyone, they actually provide us with the opportunity to work and heal the different aspects of our lives.

There are currently six planets in retrograde.

Jupiter went retrograde on 20 June and will go direct on 18 October 2021.

Saturn went retrograde on 23 May and will go direct on 11 October 2021.

Uranus went retrograde on 20 August and will go direct on 01 January 2022.

Neptune went retrograde on 25 June and will go direct on 01 December 2021.

Pluto went retrograde on 27 April and will go direct on 06 October 2021.

Chiron went retrograde on 15 July and will go direct on 19 December 2021.

What does all this mean?

Well each planet represents a different aspect of our lives. Let's break this down with what each of the above planets represent.

Jupiter, King of the Gods, the planet of plenty, and the first of the social planets. Associated with good luck and bounty, optimism and growth, Jupiter is associated with our sense of humour, good will and mercy.

In retrograde Jupiter can make you feel as if your own growth, expansion and abundance have stalled, you may feel as if your hard work and efforts are not being rewarded.  

This is the time to take stock and assess your efforts, choices, priorities, habits and responsibilities. Question yourself about where is your energy going, and where is it being rewarded. This is the time to refocus and adjust.

Saturn is associated with restriction, limitation and our fears, bringing structure and meaning to our lives. Saturn reminds us of our boundaries, responsibilities  and commitments and self-control. Saturn helps us to grow, mature, and refine ourselves. 

In retrograde means it is time to reflect back over the last 12 months, and face the blocks that you are feeling are holding you back from taking responsibility of your life. This is the time to step back and look at where you are, and where you'd like to be, and allow the retrograde to show you the steps you need to take to move forward.

Uranus is forward looking, balks at tradition, and celebrates originality and individuality. Uranus is associated with technology, innovation, discovery and that is progress. 

In retrograde this is the time to take some time to sit and reflect on your outward changes or any unexpected events that have thrown you off your trajectory over the last year. It is also the time to reflect on anything that makes us feel uneasy and uncomfortable that is being stirred up within. This retrograde could help to shed new light on what has taken place and encourage us to reckon with them in new ways.

Neptune is the planet of inspiration, bringing beauty to a higher spiritual level. Neptune is associated with our dreams, the subconscious, illusions and fantasies. Neptune rules our intuition and compassion, and helps us to connect with the more artistic side of our personality.

In retrograde Neptune provides psychological and spiritual transformation. Logical thinking and judgement may not be as clear as usual, this is the time to take off the rose tinted glasses and strip away the illusions that would usually be clouding our vision.

Pluto is associated with renewal and rebirth, it represents endings and new beginnings and spiritual growth. Pluto represents our subconscious forces ruling what is below the surface. It is associated with searching for deeper truths and meanings, change, upheaval, power struggles and issues of control.

In retrograde this we'll be dealing with karma, structure and stability both on a personal level and as a collective. This is the time to deal with any deep seated fears that are holding you back, and blocking you from thriving. Pluto in retrograde can give you clarity on the things that are no longer working for you, so you can release them and move forward. 

Chiron is our wounded healer and as such represents our deepest wounds and our efforts to heal those wounds. These wounds are where we may over compensate in our lives due to what we feel are our inadequacies. Chiron is associated with great knowledge, experience, talent and wisdom. 

In retrograde this is the time to deal with our unresolved trauma, giving us the opportunity to heal in order to live our happiest and healthiest lives. This is the chance to look deep within ourselves  and heal the repressed issues and feelings that  we have had to suck up and not given ourselves the time to deal with. This the the retrograde of deep healing shadow work,