People spend way too much time freaking the fuck out over Mercury Retrograde, which is fair, but you do know there are other planets out there, right? And just like Mercury, each planet goes retrograde at some point, causing all kinds of chaos in our lives. Here, I’ve pulled together a handy guide to help you suss out what each retrograde means and how to survive the spiritual madness.
Mercury Retrograde
When: December 19, 2021 – January 29, 2022.
How it affects us: Since Mercury Retrograde occurs the most frequently, we’ve got a whole
article dedicated to it here so tap the link for more.
Venus Retrograde
When: December 19, 2021 – January 29, 2022.
How it affects us: Because Venus is the planet of love and beauty, when it goes retrograde,
expect drama in your relationships (your romantic relationships as well as your mates and
fam), plus your self-esteem and sense of self might take a hit.
Tips for getting through it: Avoid making any risky relationship moves, such as suggesting
moving in with your partner or reconnecting with your ex, just for kicks. Play things safe as
love matters are likely to go awry at this time. Also, avoid making any major changes to your appearance because you’re ultra-sensitive right now and won’t be able to cope.
Mars Retrograde
When: Mars is station direct for all of 2021, yiewww.
How it affects us: Mars is the power planet that basically makes shit happen. It’s the source of pride, passion and the motivation to get shit done. So when it goes retrograde, you’ll be lacking energy and drive, which is a big fat bummer.
Tips for getting through it: I mean, what can you do? Mars is taking away your go-getter attitude but the world cannot stop, right? So try and find inspiration elsewhere, whether it’s by kickstarting a new workout regime with a mate, stocking up on vitamins, or following inspo pages on Instagram. Alternatively, it also might be a good idea to use this time to rest and take it easy.
Jupiter Retrograde
When: June 20, 2021 – October 18, 2021.
How it affects us: Jupiter’s vibes are all about growth and abundance, so when it goes retrograde, you’ll likely be feeling sluggish, like your life isn’t moving forward at all. Because Jupiter is something of a compass to us, guiding us towards our goal, you’ll also feel disoriented and confused.
Tips for getting through it: This is not a time for doing, this is a time for planning. Start crafting vision boards and buy yourself a journal so you can document your plans and wildest dreams that you may potentially put into action once the retrograde is over. But for now, just lay low and get your house in order.
Saturn Retrograde
When: May 23, 2021 – Oct 11, 2021.
How it affects us: Think of Saturn as the drill sergeant planet that whips us into shape and enforces discipline and structure. So when it goes retrograde, your drill sergeant is AWOL and you’re left floundering as you’ve lost your guide and have no bloody idea what to do now. During this time, important responsibilities may slip through the cracks and stuff that you’ve forgotten may come back and bite you in the butt.
Tips for getting through it: If you’re not the kind of person who sets alarms, notes and reminders or writes important things down on a to-do list, now would be the time to become that person. Your planetary drill sergeant may have ghosted you, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be your own drill sergeant. Also, avoid any major work decisions! Wait ‘til retrograde is over and you’re thinking clearly.
Uranus Retrograde
When: Aug 20, 2021 – Jan 1, 2022.
How it affects us: Laugh all you want, but Uranus is not a planet to fuck with. It’s been known to throw curve balls at us and shake things up, so when it goes retrograde, expect some wild stuff to go down. In particular, you’ll see sides of yourself that you may not have seen before and other long-term changes could kick off during this time.
Tips for getting through it: Use this retrograde to look inward and contemplate your inner desires, inner truths, how you tick, what you want out of life, etc. Now is a time for existential thinking and determining if you are who you hoped you would be by this point or if you have more growth to do. If the latter proves to be true, start putting these changes into motion post-retrograde.
Neptune Retrograde
When: Jun 25, 2021 – Dec 1, 2021.
How it affects us: Neptune is believed to have dominion over your dreams, imagination and creative spirit, so when it goes retrograde, all of these areas might become fuzzy and life, in general, will become quite confusing as it impacts both your analytical brain and your ~dreamy~ brain.
Tips for getting through it: You’ll struggle to get in touch with your creativity through natural means, so instead, get in touch with your inner child through less conventional methods. Buy a colouring book, watch movies you loved as a kid, get on the horn to your ‘rents, siblings, or childhood friends and dig up memories from when you were young. Tap into your inner kiddo and strengthen your sense of fun and play.
Pluto Retrograde
When: Apr 27, 2021 – Oct 6, 2021.
How it affects us: Despite Pluto being the furthest planet away, not to mention the heavy debate over whether or not it’s an actual planet, it still has a major influence on us. It’s been known to spark mass transformations in our lives and so when it goes retrograde, shit’s about to go down.
Tips for getting through it: Use this time to take a long hard look at yourself and cut out the BS. Particularly focus on ways that you may have been holding yourself back or self-sabotaging and release yourself of negative behaviours to help you introduce more positive attitudes.
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