I thought that since I hadn’t done a retrograde post yet this year, I would do one. Because the planets revolve around our sun at different speeds, we experience what appears to us as a planet stopping and beginning to move backward. They don’t do this of course, but while they appear in this backward motion the energy of the planet has a different effect on us than it does when in its traveling properly.
There are a few stages that planets pass through during the retrograde process. The first is when the planets begins to slow down. This is called the Shadow. During this phase we gradually begin to feel the effects of the reverse motion. The second is the retrograde itself, when the planet appears motionless and headed backward. Depending on how far the planet is from us this can last for a few weeks or months. The final phase is when the planet comes direct again, we are back in the shadow for a period of time as the energy slowly filters off. From our perspective the Sun and Moon never retrograde, but the planets do and we have six this year that will be going into retrograde during the course of the spring and summer.
The first of the planets to go is Mercury; being closest to the Sun, it takes 88 days to make a trip around, and because of this we experience three to four retrograde cycles a year. On rare occasions there is a fifth, but that is the rare occasion.
The first of our three Mercury retrogrades will enter its shadow phase on February 19, 2019, go fully retrograde from March 5th to 28th when it will come direct and stay in the exit shadow until April 16, 2019. The second will enter its shadow June 20, go retrograde from July 7th to 31st and go and leave the final shadow August 15, 2019. The final Mercury retrograde will enter the shadow October 11 and go full retrograde October 31 to November 20 and leave the final shadow December 7, 2019.
Things have a tendency to get a bit confusing when Mercury is retrograde. Mercury rules the intellect, and all forms of communication. During this time it is a good idea to avoid buying or selling anything big like cars or appliances. Avoid negotiations and signing contracts. Since Mercury can fly travel might also be affected. The important thing to remember during these down periods is to pay attention to how we are communicating. Say only what you mean, mean what you say and speak it as clearly as possible. Check, recheck and save your work. Making backup copies of important things is a good idea. Certainly, don’t fear the retrograde. The quite can be very cleansing.
Venus and Mars are not going retrograde until next year, so we don’t have to be concerned about them right now.
The next planet out is Jupiter. This takes 12 years to work its way around the sun, giving it a retrograde cycle every 13 months. The shadow of this year’s cycle began January 14th of this year and will go into full stop from April 10th to August 11th of this years and the back-side shadow will be complete on November 5th.
Jupiter rules over higher learning and travel which means while retrograde, traveling might be a bit of an issue with delays and unexpected cancellations. You may want to plan well and add extra time. Make sure you have maps and a cell phone charger for those just in case moments. Because this is a planet of learning, when it is retrograde, Jupiter encourages introspection, reflection and personal growth.
Saturn is the third planet to go retrograde this year, it takes 29.5 years to circle the sun. Saturn entered the shadow January 22, will go retrograde April 29th and stay until September 18th. We will be out of the back-side shadow December 24, just in time for Christmas.
This planet helps us set boundaries as it rules discipline, responsibility and stability. While retrograde we can find it difficult to keep focused on the things that are important to us. When Saturn is retrograde it helps us see aspects of our lives that need work. Saturn also has an element of karma. During this retrograde its payback time. Good for good and bad for bad. Let’s pray we’re all on the good side.
The last three planets are further out from us. The further out from the sun a planet gets the longer its retrograde cycle. This is important because longer cycles have an effect on our lives for the better part of a year or more.
Uranus is the next planet and its path around the Sun takes 84 years. It just completed a retrograde cycle this past January and will begin another by entering the shadow April 24th. The retrograde motion will be from August 11th to January 10th and we will be out of its post shadow in April of next year.
Uranus is a bit of a rebel. It loves freedom, originality and creativity. During its retrograde Uranus internalize all this rebellious energy and encourages the inner changes we all need to get us moving forward in our lives.
We are almost to the furthest planet. Neptune is next in line. This planet takes 164 years to make one revolution around the Sun. It will enter the shadow February 28th and be in backward motion from June 19th to November 27th, 2019. The post shadow will be complete March 16, 2020.
Neptune is the dreamer. With him things may not be as they appear. He rules imagination, confusion and illusion. While retrograde, like it or not, we come face to face with reality and have to deal with whatever that reality is.
This brings us to the last known planet in our system. Pluto takes 248 years to move around the sun. It entered the shadow phase January 1st of this year and will be in retrograde April 24th to October 2nd. The post retrograde shadow will be completed January 23, 2020.
Pluto is the planet of transformation. It can bring drastic change to people’s lives. Whether that is good or bad depends on our motivations. While retrograde we internalize this energy and have the opportunity to examine what motivates us, why and then make the changes necessary to get us going in the direction we want to be moving.
There is nothing to fear when it comes to planetary retrogrades. Life is about change and growth, retrogrades help us do that by slowing things down and allowing us to take a good honest look at our lives, the people we share them with and where we want to be headed. Then encouraging us to make the changes we need in order to get where we are going.
Blessed Be ❤ Shay
Element Mind Body Spirit 