Photo by Ashkan Forouzani on Unsplash
Last week, 3 planets stationed retrograde. Many people become anxious when they hear the term “retrograde”—which is understandable, given that so much of the astrology click-bait advises people to “brace themselves” and “look out”. A lot of the retrograde-centered articles I see floating around make it seem as if some sort of angry external force is going to come and destroy everything.
But bracing oneself is really the last thing one should do during a retrograde. Retrogrades are periods to settle and surrender. Energy that is usually considered to be external becomes internalized. During these times, the energies up for review are expressed internally, to ourselves, rather than externally to the outside world. We become more intimately aware of what we express to the outside world because, during these periods, the narratives we typically express externally are now expressed internally. It’s an opportunity to see an energy more clearly. Retrogrades are amazing times to evolve and shift narratives that aren’t working anymore—if they ever really worked.
Retrogrades are opportunities to realize how one internalizes external narratives or realities. These are times when our conditioning—individually and collectively—can become clearer. These are times when it becomes more obvious that and how we’re blaming the past and the external world for ideas and realities that we’re choosing to maintain in our heads. I’m not saying that some of these aren’t deeply embedded. But regardless, each of us is responsible for walking away from and transforming the voices in our own heads. During retrogrades, we can connect with these parts of ourselves more intimately—the inner bully, the inner abuser, the inner colonizer—and release them so that we can transform them into supporters and forms of productive power. I know - easier said than done. But that’s why we’re here!
Photo by Michael Schielke on Unsplash
Last week, Saturn, Venus, and Jupiter all stationed retrograde.
When Saturn stations retrograde, we are called upon to examine our own level of self-control. Would you rather practice self-control or have someone else impose controls and restrictions upon you? In what area could you use a bit more self-control? Do you need support or accountability in order to maintain it? If so, find it. Don’t be ashamed. We all need help and accountability doesn’t have to be an iron fist. It can be fun. It can help spark your creativity. Saturn is the most resourceful energy in the Zodiac and resourcefulness requires immense creativity.
When Venus stations retrograde, we are called upon to examine how much we really love ourselves, how much we accept ourselves, how much we choose ourselves. To be honest, to have Venus and Saturn in retrograde at the same time feels really beautiful because how a person loves themself (and others) can very much be linked to self-control. Self-control, discipline, dedication ... these can all also be forms of love toward oneself that make a person better, so that they can also be better for the people they love.
Venus Retrogrades bring relational patterns into review. Once again, this is really about self-love. Do you enjoy the people in your life? Does their energy resonate with you? Do you feel whole when you’re with them? Do you feel like you can be fully yourself when you’re around them? Or are you just spending time with people because they’re around, because they’re available, because you’re taking what you can get, because they make you feel useful, etc? When you love yourself, you allow yourself to be surrounded by people who make you feel GOOD—not in a way where they praise you all the time, stroke your ego, or try to appease you, but in a way where the reality of who they are allows you to be all of who you are and leaves you wanting to show up as your best self. How do you manage and negotiate your energy in relationship? Saturn helps Venus set boundaries that allow her to be her best self and Venus helps Saturn ease restrictions that prevent him from being vulnerable.
When Jupiter stations retrograde, we are called to examine our self-destructive and self-defeating behaviors, to examine whether and how we use all of the resources we HAVE, and where we tend to collapse our power or play small. Every single person, regardless of who they are or where they’ve come from, has fortune, luck, and privilege of some kind. As is true of every type of energy, it shows up in different ways, is valued differently by different people and cultures, and its development may or may not be encouraged. Everyone has certain gifts. What are yours? Do you throw your gifts away or do you USE them to help you? Do you ignore your privilege out of fear of what other people will think or do you USE it? Don’t shy away from your privilege—however it shows up—when you can PRACTICE it to make the world a better place.
This week, ask yourself:
What are my innate AND earned gifts, fortunes, and privileges?
How can I use my innate gifts in ways that both support me AND support others?
What structures can I/do I need to implement that allow me to make this possible?