Retrograde Cycles 101

When learning about and exploring individual planetary energies, it's important to look beyond just the traits of the celestial body, and to also examine its unique orbital patterns and cycles. According to The Farmers' Almanac:

"The term retrograde comes from the Latin word retrogradus, which literally means “backward step.”

As the name suggests, retrograde is when a planet appears to go backward in its orbit, as viewed from Earth. Astronomers refer to this as “apparent retrograde motion,” because it is an optical illusion.

The opposite of retrograde is direct or prograde motion. Prograde motion is the term astronomers prefer, while astrologers are more prone to use the term “direct” motion."

In astrology, we interpret a planetary retrograde as a period in life that calls for significant slowing, pausing, stopping, or reversal from our normal, day-to-day forward motion and behavioral patterns. It is a time meant for reexamining, reflecting, reviewing, and redesigning - an amazingly helpful concept I learned from Colin Bedell of @QueerCosmos. This is a big symbol or sign from our Universe that we are not meant to forever move forward at our usual pace for eternity. That slowing down, rechecking and retracing our steps, pausing or stopping - it's all a necessary part of the process of life! This is empowering because we can claim some spiritual confirmation here that it's in our nature to resist the nonstop hustle & endless productivity culture and pressures from society.

A Bad Rep

Retrogrades, particularly Mercury Retrograde, are definitely in the Bad Bois of the Zodiac Club (along with Scorpio, Gemini, Libra, Saturn, Chiron, Pluto, & Uranus) - my name for the corner of astrology that houses the characters with the worst reputations. And yet when we step back and remind ourselves that each of our natal charts represents the fact that we are a fractal of Source, a fractal of our solar system, it means that we all have Bad Bois in our charts. What does this mean? Well, it means there really are no "bad" signs, planets, or placements. It means each one serves it's own unique purpose as part of a greater whole. And the period of time a planet spends in its retrograde cycle, is definitely one of those sacred parts.

Now, the reason for this, where this bad wrap comes from, is more often than not our experiences during Mercury's retrograde cycle. This is for a few reasons, one being that Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun, it's extremely close to us here on Earth, and so it's connection is to things in our most immediate world and environment. We experience Mercury in the short term and in the immediate. Mercury also stations retrograde relatively often; about 3-4 times per year for about 3-4ish weeks at a time, (with some small varying factors). And finally, this planet represents our day-to-day interactions with others and our environment which includes but isn't limited to: our internet/social media & communication technology, regular commutes & travel, casual interaction and basic communication, and our ability to process and export information - this planet rules The Mind.

A person can experience particular difficulties and challenge during any planetary retrograde for a number of reasons, but there will always be greater challenge for those that reject the idea of taking breaks from the usual pace and automatic forward motion, for those that push and push and push and push when it is clearly a time for pausing or even stopping.

How do I know this? Well, think back on your own life. Have you maybe caught yourself doing this before? Pushing yourself and maybe even others around you to keep going going going when you were being asked to slow down or stop? To recheck or reexamine something? To retrace your steps? But you skipped over it, you tried to avoid it, or you tried not to look back at it? Of course you have, we all have. It's a collective experience, and it means that the best way to head into and remain during a retrograde cycle is with patience, trust, and the willingness to reexamine what you believe and/or know.

Individual Retrograde Cycles

The following reference table will help you interpret and understand each planet's retrograde cycles and orbital patterns. For more exact numbers, Astrology Online.Eu, Astrology Club, NASA, and North Western all have interesting (and more accurate) info for further exploration.

Planet	Key Characteristics	Represents	Solar Orbit	Retrograde Frequency (approximate, I rounded)	Retrograde Duration (also rounded)
Mercury	Inner planet, Air	communication, technology, information processing	88 days	3-3.5 months	21 days/3 weeks
Venus	Inner planet, Earth & Water	significant connection and relationships, empathy, love, and our perception of beauty	225 days	18 months	42 days/6 weeks
Mars	Inner planet, Fire	action, motivation, movement, momentum, drive, passion, lust	687 days	26 months	60 days/8 weeks
Jupiter	In-between (not quite in, not quite out), Air & Fire	expanding horizons, growth and prosperity, optimism and future dreams	12 years	9 months	4 months
Saturn	In-between, Earth	lessons and learned boundaries/limitations, karma, consequences/cause & effect	29 years	12 months	4.5 months
Uranus	Outer planet, Air	major and abrupt change, chaotic forces, rebellion from authority	84 years	12 months	5 months
Neptune	Outer planet, Water	dreams and the unconscious realm, our faith and beliefs, our connection to Spirit	166 years	12 months	5-6 months
Pluto	Outer planet, Water & Fire	death/destruction, rebirth/transformation, key and access to the Underworld	248 years	12 months	6 months

To best understand and interpret a past, present, or approaching retrograde cycle, you want to consider the following items individually, and then together as a whole unit:

• The planet & its characteristics/traits/lessons

• The zodiac sign it is in

• Is this an inner (short-term) or an outer (long-term) planet?

• What element(s) are activated?

• Where this takes place in your chart

• Any major aspects

Example:

• See above for Mercury characteristics & traits.

• Mercury Retrograde 2022 Dates January 14-February 3: Aquarius - Capricorn May 10-June 3: Gemini - Taurus September 9-October 2: Libra - Virgo December 29-January 18, 2023: Capricorn

• This is an inner or short-term planet

• Activating the Air element

• In my chart this May-June retrograde will be in my 10th House, and then from here I can look at any major aspects being made.

Easy, Go-To Retrograde Journal/Thought Prompts

Add your own unique flavor by also considering the energy of the zodiac sign, planet, house, etc. You can also use these as tarot card questions!

1. What themes or areas of my life have recently felt on repeat-mode? What seems to recall my attention over and over again?

2. Why do I believe I'm being called to reflect and review this further?

3. How can I reexamine this in a new and different perception?

4. What blockages or conditions have been preventing me from better understanding/processing this in the past?

5. How can I use this new perspective to move forward in growth & rebirth?

Don't forget to listen to my Intro to Retrogrades on Moonday Musings, and don't hesitate to reach out with any questions! Let's chat in Mighty Networks about retrograde cycles and our birth charts.