Wondering What Planet Is In Retrograde Now? Retrograde Season Is Upon Us.
It may have felt like this year has been a never-ending Mercury retrograde, and part of that is because Mercury has been in Pisces (retrograde and direct) since the beginning of February. Mercury finally moved into Aries on April 11 and the moon was in Sagittarius, relighting our fires and expanding us over the second weekend of the month.
Later in the month the sun moved from Aries into Taurus on Sunday, April 19. Earth day is April 22, and then to bookend that week (and the month of April), Pluto stations retrograde in Capricorn on Saturday, April 25. This kicks off an approximate 6 month period of anywhere from two to six planets spinning retrograde at the same time!
This sounds intense, and this is why the emphasis on the practical applications and the teachable aspects of retrograde cycles are so important. This is not a period to fear. And anytime we feel fear it is an opportunity to shift into understanding - understanding ourselves on deeper levels as we understand what is going on in the world and the universe around us. Because we can tend to get bogged down in our physical reality, especially when it is going through such transition and uncertainty as it is now, our minds may rush to fill in the answers we just don’t have yet.
Just as in periods of Mercury in retrograde, it is not the best idea to begin new projects or to make big long term plans, especially with the current circumstances being what they are. It’s good to stick to a routine to keep the day-to-day in order and not fall into chaos.
This is the start of a summer in the northern hemisphere (winter in the southern) of coming back to basics, prioritizing our health and reflecting on what’s important and what is not working - to change what can and needs to be changed.
We are in a time of simplifying and focusing on the things that demand immediate attention. We just had the Libra full moon. As Libra is all about balance, we need to balance our light with our dark, our shadow with our selves.
Things that have been repressed or glossed over will be coming into the light, and our shadow side will be integrated.
All of our planets will be going retrograde. This includes the inner planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, and outer planets Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto.
Here’s what to expect this upcoming retrograde season this summer and into the fall.
Pluto
Pluto goes retrograde first, which sets the tone for the main theme of this season. When Pluto goes retrograde, we are facing our shadow. Repressed thoughts and emotions come to the surface for purposes of healing and transformation. If we continue to deny our feelings, then nothing changes, which is not the way we are going to want to play it this time. If Pluto was the only planet going retrograde, it might make it easier to pretend like everything is copacetic, but Pluto is just the beginning.
Saturn
On May 11 Saturn goes retrograde, too. Saturn just moved into Aquarius, but it’s not quite done in its ruler sign, Capricorn. When Saturn is in this retrograde, its focus is on a reevaluation of the structures, rules, and systems we govern our lives with. This is applicable on the individual level, in how we structure our days with routines, and how we schedule and prioritize our time. And, of course, it will also be affecting us on the collective and global levels as more details about our governments and rulers are revealed. We will also be feeling it in whatever houses in our natal charts that Capricorn and Aquarius rule.
Venus
A couple of days later, on May 13, Venus starts its retrograde in the sign of Gemini. Venus rules love and money, and Gemini is the sign of communication and friendships. The theme of this retrograde is centered around money and love partnerships - romantically and in business. Communication is important during this time, though miscommunications are common. Note that Venus retrogrades are not beneficial times to invest money or invest in new relationships. It is best to wait until Venus goes direct again for these types of involvements, which will happen on June 25.
Jupiter
On May 14 Jupiter also goes retrograde in Capricorn. Jupiter in Capricorn is already a tricky position - which we have been feeling since it began this transit in December 2019. With Jupiter retrograde in this sign, it can feel like we are going through a daily existential crisis. Depending on where Jupiter is in your personal chart, these effects can be more or less felt, but generally this is the mood. This is not intended to cause dread or fear (or panic), but rather to prepare us for the energies that we will all be feeling during this time. There is comfort in knowing that we will all be feeling this way to some degree during this retrograde.
Mercury
We have our second Mercury retrograde of the year from June 18 to July 12. This year Mercury is retrograding through the water signs. Water signs rule heightened emotions and also heightened intuition. These Mercury retrogrades in the water signs are teaching us about fluidity and learning to deal with our emotions from a compassionate and empathetic place, rather than coming from a place of trying to deny, repress, mask, or escape from them.
We are learning healthy ways of taking care of our emotions and being sensitive to the emotions in ourselves and other people. Recognizing we are going through the same emotions, cycling through them in similar ways, is allowing us to experience deeper levels of compassion and connection.
Neptune
Traditionally, Neptune rules Pisces and represents our deep inner world’s spirituality. This planet goes retrograde on June 23 and will be retrograde until December. When Neptune goes retrograde we can expect philosophies and bigger picture ideas to be reevaluated and rearranged. Neptune will be trine with Jupiter and Pluto in earth signs, all spinning retrograde. These three planets together are all about shifting our perspectives (Jupiter) and dealing head-on with things rather than sweeping them under the carpet (Neptune).
Earth signs ground us in reality and encourage practical changes (Pluto). They remind us of the steps we need to take instead of waiting for decisions to be made for us. Neptune will also be squaring Saturn until July when Saturn moves back into Capricorn, again rejoining the Jupiter and Pluto conjunction. This is a time to reevaluate and ask ourselves, “Have we learned what lessons this period is trying to teach us? Or are we doing the same old same old?” The answer will likely be a combination of these.
Uranus
Uranus waits until August to join the retrograde party. This is another main highlight. Uranus is Aquarius’ ruler, and when this planet is retrograde freedom is the focus. Uranus will be retrograde in Taurus (as it was last year), and there may be issues around financial security that come up during this time. This is the only planet that will not go direct again at the end of the year and will still be retrograde when Jupiter and Saturn meet up in late December in Aquarius. Having Uranus square this conjunction might throw a wrench in the plans that these signs have to expand our consciousness and limiting beliefs as a global community. Many astrologers are saying that this Jupiter-Saturn conjunction will relieve a lot of the pressure and tension we are feeling right now.
These energies and times are tough, but they do have a purpose. Trusting and practical planning, while prioritizing our personal freedom and balancing connection, is especially important this year.
Mars
Mars rules Aries and will be going retrograde in this sign from September 9 to November 13. Taking any direct action during this time will feel like trying to move through quicksand and it is not projected as a good time to move forward with any big plans. Before or after this time, yes, but not during. Mars rules the masculine energies in us, and when this planet moves retrograde feminine qualities will be more naturally developed. The more we lean into those feminine qualities of flow, relaxation, acceptance, and overdoing, the more easily this transit will feel for us.
Mercury
Mercury does its third and final retrograde in Scorpio at the end of October, and that rounds out the year. By December of this year, only Uranus will still be retrograde in Taurus, and Jupiter and Saturn will be conjunct in Aquarius. By this time, the hope and intent is everything that needs to be reviewed will have gone under review and we will be ready to move forward in new and beneficial ways in 2021.
There is no rushing anything this year. This is where we are and making the best of it from every angle possible.
The only way out is through.
Acceptance is key.
Some days there will be nothing to do and we will be continually bumping up against, refining, revisiting and working with what we know. The best medicine is the one that works for us individually. This Aquarian Age we are moving into is helped along by our willingness to look inside ourselves (shadow and all), heal, and take care of ourselves and each other, but it does start at home and within ourselves, our bodies and minds - our ultimate place of “home”.
Here are the exact dates for each planet’s retrograde:
Pluto goes retrograde in Capricorn on April 25 and will station direct again on October 4.
Saturn goes retrograde in Aquarius on May 11 and stations direct again on September 29 in Capricorn.
Venus goes retrograde in Gemini on May 13 and stations direct on June 25.
Jupiter goes retrograde in Capricorn on May 14 and stations direct on September 12.
Mercury begins its 2nd retrograde of the year on June 18 in the sign of Cancer and will station direct on July 12. On October 13 Mercury goes retrograde in the sign of Scorpio and goes direct on November 3 in the sign of Libra.
Neptune goes retrograde in Pisces on June 23, and stations direct on November 28.
Uranus goes retrograde in Taurus on August 15 and will station direct on January 14, 2021.
Mars goes retrograde in Aries on September 9 and will station direct on November 13.
Want to go deeper?
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Elisabeth is a writer and astrologer, based in Seattle. To connect with her more about astrology, you can connect with her via a chart reading her Instagram @elisabetham, or email her at info@elisabethmckinley.com.
