Tag Archives: Retrogrades and Directions

Merc Direct: We’re Free!

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‘Woman in Ecstasy’ By Ferdinand Hodler 1911 {{PD}}

Merc made apparent turnaround in the wee hours this morning PDT, the 3rd, and we may all be feeling just a bit freer, now–and you may have felt the Moon in Cancer form a sextile soon after direction, giving us a strong dose of emotion around what transpired during the retro period, and that may have been soothing or unsettling, but has probably been put into proportion, by now. What’s coming, though, is where our attention should be.

Mercury direct moves from a retro approaching sextile to Neptune to a waning one, with contact not having been made since Merc first passed in direct aspect, what feels like a lifetime ago (so, roughly a month!). This likely eases the mind as we feel more and more rational, less influenced by an overactive imagination or delusion/ deception–and this easing/ freedom feeling is even more apparent as Merc moves away from a some-time-ago square to Saturn–change and limits seem to fall away, boundaries no longer as defined or restrictive as they seemed.

So that’s all good. The question becomes: will these perceptions be accurate, in terms of our reality? The first two contacts Mercury direct makes tell the story: a trine to Pluto, followed by a conjunction to Sedna. This suggests that all the loosening and relaxing may lead to a surfacing of rage, an impulse to purge, a destructive desire, or a wish to transform or resurrect. This might apply to something one spent considerable time pondering or dealing with during the retro–suddenly, a big change might seem very positive. Judgments about the fitness of this conclusion can only be made in light of the natal scenario, but if things have been overall steady and positive, it may be just the thing to pursue, particularly if it has the character of attending to the long-neglected or the long-sensed but unaddressed. Use your instincts, and be honest with yourself–genuine honesty is the only way those instincts are worth a sh*t.

Saturn retrogrades on the 4th, and Neptune in just over 3 weeks, on the 28th. The former may lift even more restrictions, opening the way further, especially in intellectual pursuits, the new and the innovative, the original and unique, if you’re a Saturn retro responder– but, if the retro cycle tends to withdraw security or dependable supports in your world, then you’ll see the characteristic responses, concentrated in changes to your understanding of things, or calling into question what seemed unique, original and worthwhile just days ago, with the springing up, likely without explanation, of roadblocks and denials.

With Neptune we’ll be looking at a change in background noise, more than anything. Re-consideration of the creative, of ideas and ideals, may be on the agenda, and often this turnaround can prompt one to dig for the Truth of something, as we try and connect our conceptions to reality.

That’s our glimpse ahead. Have a wonderful weekend!

Retrogrades and Directions: October 2021

07 Thursday Oct 2021

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, future events in the sky, Retrogrades + Directions

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‘Autumn’ By János Vaszary c1938 {{PD}}

Pluto stationed direct just before noon Pacific time on the 6th, but as always when he shifts apparent direction, he’s been squatting at this spot (24 CAP 18) for some time–and he’ll stay at that degree until the final day of November. We feel those stationary periods as times when it seems nothing will ever change in matters related to the stationing body, or those natal elements it touches; in the case of Pluto in Capricorn it may feel as if rotten institutions may never fall, that the destructive goes unchecked, that being resurrected, transformed, or re-born comes with a lot of rules (or that to rise again, we have to be willing to truly transform, particularly in the disciplines we apply to ourselves), that changes feel restricting rather than liberating, or conversely, that change brings understandable rules you’ve needed or longed for, that familiar structure is being altered, possibly through adhering to its own built-in constraints–you get the drift.

For a portion of this period (roughly October 9th through the 16th) Pluto direct-but-crawling will semi-sextile Jupiter in Aquarius as it slows and stations to go direct on the 18th. That may lend to Pluto a sense of Higher Mind understanding that exaggerates what we need to pay attention to–and exaggerates the it-will-never-end-ness of whatever Plutonian effect you’re undergoing. Just expect a sense of stuckness but look also for the light at the end of the tunnel–because that’s what Jupiter’s offering, an optimistic glimpse at opportunity, openings, or knowledge to come.

With Pluto and Jupiter we’re likely to experience their motion change as a lifting, a getting back, a resumption of more positive conditions, but with Saturn, which goes direct on the 11th, it’s a toss-up: we’re either in the camp that does well under Saturn direct but suddenly experiences obstacles and barriers when it retrogrades, or we find Saturn direct a barrier that’s only removed when the planet turns around. For that latter group, the way is clear during the retro period, while direction puts up walls and rules that weren’t there (or weren’t applicable) before. Happening as it is in Aquarius, Saturn’s direction is likely to involve Higher Mind, just as with Jupiter, or understanding, with these things either deepening our knowledge and so our ability to move forward constructively, or tossing obstacles in our path (and the rub is, we’ll understand why those obstacles have appeared, though it may be outside our control to affect them).

And then there’s Mercury, retro in Libra, turning around on the 18th at 10 LIB 09. What will we have learned (the retro was in an Air sign) by then? Something about our relationships, or ourselves within them, or about our values, what we want to invest in, or about what we’re willing to do, to be, in order to get what we want (a version of Love, as we see it). These revelations are useful, though if you haven’t been hit by lightning don’t be disappointed: Mercury works on the mind, and for its retro period it moves the mind out of the way. Especially for predominantly Air types, but true to some extent for everyone, the end of this Mercury retro can feel like you’re groggy, just waking up–but really, you’re just coming back into your mind, after having wallowed in feeling, the senses, and the unseen–and you come back changed, equipped in some way and with some understanding you didn’t have before. Now go out there and use what you’ve learned.

Venus Retrograde 2018 Experimental Passions

04 Thursday Oct 2018

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, future events in the sky, Retrogrades + Directions, Venus, Venus Retrograde

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‘Femme nue’, 1889 By Jean-Léon Gérôme {{PD}}

Venus currently appears stationary, and will begin apparent backward motion on October 5th at 10 Scorpio 50 (and a skosh), 12:05 PM PDT. Every 8 years Venus retrogrades at just a few degrees less in the same sign; last retro in Scorpio began October 7th 2010 at 13 Scorpio 13. We look back to what happened at that time for clues as to what will appear this time; the House of the natal chart where the retrograde falls will tell you what subjects, individuals, or groups will potentially be prominent. These issues may be the same as last time Venus went retro here, they even may pick up exactly where they left off, or another topic represented by the House may come forward, and there’s the possibility that the Venus retro effect may spill over into the matters of the Houses of the natal chart ruled by Venus, as well as Venus’ usual themes of ‘Love & Money’.

Venus’ turnaround prompts us to pull back on aesthetic choices, to reconsider friendships, partnerships, or love interests, to review investments of all kinds, to experiment in these areas. Suddenly we wake up one day and long to try something new in one or another Venus ruled arena; as this retro is in Scorpio, we are likely to dig, excavate, research, our need to find ‘the Truth’ urgent and emotionally stirring, with all the consequent (and probably predictable) upset this brings to relationships, values, or financial situations. We’ll be drawn, one way or another, into a Venusian ‘cave’–how and how deeply we choose to explore it is the retrograde journey.

During the retrograde we may decide to resuscitate some Venusian interest. We could go back to making Art, making money, or making Love, reconnect with an ex-, reach out to a lost friendship, dabble in new income sources, or look to handle our funds or interactions differently than before. What we cherish or find rewarding comes into focus–though we could say it loses its usual focus, giving us a different viewpoint than we are accustomed to–and we may see temporary circumstances that turn as much on finding what doesn’t work for us as by locating what does.

The retro period frees us from the usual Venusian constraints we apply (indicated by the natal Venus placement by House and most especially by sign), but caution from the get-go is necessary: what we may not see is that our judgments made under the influence of the retro may not hold, may in fact revolt or upset us when Venus is once again direct. We need to remain cognizant of the experimental nature of a Venus retrograde–the trick is to venture out of our comfort zones, try new things, but to do so without destroying what already is–though that judgment may come later, once the goddess goes direct.

Who holds emotional power within relationships may be at issue, and the choice to regenerate contacts that may have withered may come before us. Passions of all stripe may be re-ignited, and passion may be the measure against which we judge all things at this time. Does it fire us up, does it move us, does it reach us deep inside? Venus in Scorpio will let us know if it does–or maybe even more important, if it doesn’t–and one thing we can know is that our experiences now will reach into our emotional depths. Feelings that may have been hidden could see the light–and of course, once released that djinn can’t be shoved back into the bottle.

By Max Slevogt 1896 {{PD}}

What we must remember, though, is that our tastes and preferences change shape during the retro; tried-and-true preferences give way to the exotic or strange, or especially with Scorpio, to the dark impulse or forbidden, the urge toward complete obliteration, transformation, or change, the seduction of the extreme. What we fall in or out of love with may or may not better reflect who we really are–it all depends on so many things.

What have you always wanted to try, in line with subjects of the House placement of the retro within the natal chart, but it crossed a line for you? You may be presented with that very thing (or go out seeking it!) between now and 16 November–and add to that Mercury’s retrograde in Sagittarius as soon as Venus completes her apparent backward motion, suggesting that out from under the altered tastes of Venus retro we must immediately re-think our actions or what we’ve learned (Merc in Sagittarius, a Fire sign). Take the hint: during this Venus retro we are likely to do some things we later question; that means changes should be easily un-doable–dying the hair pink, yes! Getting a tattoo, no! Dating someone new, sure! Getting married spur-of-the-moment, nope!

Aspects made soon after the retrograde period begins, or aspects occurring at the turnaround point, often clue us in to the nature of the retro itself, and certainly to the circumstances early in the period. This time, other than a sextile from the Moon once she changes sign, Venus’ first aspect will be a square to Mars in Aquarius. That occurs 10th-11th of October and is accompanied by a conjunction from the Moon to Venus. This suggests that we likely meet at least some consequences of our actions during the retro–and these may show too much of a tendency to intellectualize the Will, perhaps divorcing it from the raw want that Venus can stir, and possibly underestimating the emotional impact our choices will have, on our own egos, or on our ability to continue to exercise our Will.

The retro period offers situations and circumstances that allow us to reconsider our values, to reassess where and on whom we spend our Venus energy, where we give or invest our Love, our cooperation, what we are willing to do in exchange for life giving material support or Soul-enhancing affections.  Happening in Scorpio, we need to remember during the retrograde that what we’re ultimately aiming for is better discovering or understanding the Truth that drives each of us forward–and from there, how well we receive and process and make use of that information is up to us.

Winter is coming! Photo by me

I’ll be taking some time off, so no daily reports for a while. I will pop back in randomly and do plan on reporting on New and Full Moons, and of course will be checking mail and orders. Hoping to finally finish my Moon book–right now I’m working on the Lunar relationship between Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, and just finished a Juno-heavy Lunar look at Mary Shelley and her mother, Mary Wollstonecraft. Thank you to all my readers, to those who offer support in all forms, and to my clients–you keep me hopping!! and I love you for it 🙂