Future eclipses

Retrograde planets – 2018

Mercury Retrogrades – 2018
4 December 2017 (Sagittarius) – 24 December 2017 (Sagittarius)
23 March 2018 (Aries) – 16 April 2018 (Aries)
26 July 2018 (Leo) – 19 August 2018 (Leo)
17 November 2018 (Sagittarius) – 7 December 2018 (Scorpio)

Mercury (the planet of communication) moves retrograde (appearance of moving backwards in our sky) approximately 3 to 4 times each year and for approximately 3 weeks each time.

Mercury only takes 88 days to transit around the Sun, whereas Earth takes approximately 365 days… hence at times during Mercury’s transit, from the position of Earth, Mercury appears to be moving backwards (Retrograde) in our skies.

Mercury rules all communications such as computers, phones, travel, electronics and all business/personal communications & documentations.  When mercury moves retrograde and into the darker recesses of our psyche, this may herald a time of misunderstandings, mis-communications, computers & electronics crashing and plans going haywire !

So how do you you consciously work with Mercury Retrograde ? Just consider all the ‘RE’s’, ie re-evaluations, re-checking, re-pair, re-store etc., urring on the side of caution and making sure all details are attended to.  This is not a favourable time for signing contracts and do remember to back up your computers BEFORE mercury goes retro.

Rather than perceive Mercury Retrograde as a negative time, I prefer to work with the energy as a wonderful ‘inward’ time to recalibrate my visions and move forward in conscious action when Mercury moves direct.

Venus Retrograde – 2018
6 October 2018 (Scorpio) – 16 November 2018 (Libra)

Venus takes 225 days to do a complete revolution around our Sun and is stationary for somewhere between a few hours or 3 or 4 days. Venus moves into retrograde every 18 months or so, and then stays that way for about 6 weeks.

Venus rules all of our relationships, our relationship to self as well as love, family, friendships and our business relationships. It also is our appreciation of art, beauty and our passions.

When Venus is retro you may find that the world takes on a different hue, as what you previously experienced as beautiful now tends to be seen through different eyes. All your relationships maybe under the microscope and if you have avoided relationship then this maybe exactly what you attract. If you have slipped into old patterns (such as the glamour of overindulging in food, sex, alcohol), it is a time to also examine your relationship with substances and lifestyle choices.

It is often recommend to not take major relationship steps during a Venus retro (such as engagement or marriage or even divorce or quitting a job)… but to objectively explore your emotions and feelings as they come up and then to move forward consciously when Venus goes direct.

Mars Retrograde – 2018
27 June 2018 (Aquarius) – 27 August 2018 (Capricorn)

Mars takes approximately 2 years (687 days) to do a complete revolution around our Sun. Mars moves into retrograde every 2 years + 2 months, and then stays that way for about 55 to 80 days.

Mars rules energy, passion, action, initiative and asserting yourself out in the world.

When Mars is retrograde, this ‘action oriented’ planets energy lacks vitality as the energy is inverted inward. It can at times feel as if you are paddling upstream, with endless delays, roadblocks, setbacks and detours dotting your path. For some, these frustrations may give light to anger and resentment, which may result in outbursts and emotional/physical explosions that aren’t pretty. It is a bit like capping an active volcano, if the internal pressure builds too much the end result could be very messy !

Rather than burn up your internal energy through anger, war & fighting during Mars Retrograde, it would be better to allow and ‘see’ how these delays can serve you. Initiating new projects (eg relationships, contracts, new business deals etc..) during Mars retro most often leads to dead-ends or endless delays, it is better to reflect on or rework existing projects. If set-back do arise, don’t force issues, just go with flow and work with any delays in the knowing that all happens in divine timing for the greater good of all.

Jupiter Retrograde – 2018
9 March 2018 (Scorpio) – 10 July 2018 (Scorpio)

Jupiter takes around 12 years to do a complete revolution around our Sun. Jupiter moves into retrograde approximately every year for around 120 days.

Jupiter rules expansion, freedom, wisdom, travel, foreign affairs, abundance and good luck. It is a social and jolly planet, working with the collective as it spends about 1 year in every sign of the zodiac.

When Jupiter is retro, this energy is reflected inward and we are guided to reevaluate our spiritual beliefs, our societal ethics and our philosophical approach to life. It is a time of truth-seeking and finding the deeper meaning in all aspects of life.

Travel plans can be delayed or cancelled during Jupiter retro. This is a time to slow down and give focus to your personal belief systems and understandings of success and abundance. This is also not the best time to take big risks, or spend up big.. but rather do your research, ponder and follow your inner-guidance when Jupiter moves direct.

Saturn Retrograde – 2018
18 April 2018 (Capricorn) – 6 September 2018 (Capricorn)

Saturn takes approximately 29.5 years to do a complete revolution around our Sun. Saturn moves into retrograde approximately every year for around 140 days.

Saturn is often referred to as the planet of karma, discipline or the dispenser of justice. It is a factual planet that induces us to face our personal reality, and is thorough, unrelenting and breaks down our control issues. I like to view Saturn as a wise old sage.

When Saturn is retro, it is not a time to take short-cuts, but an opportunity to take things slowly and do it correctly the first time around.. or you may find you will be revisiting the project over and over again. It is a time to understand your limitations or limitations of those around you and practice patience. Authority maybe also be an issue at this time, and you may feel like ‘fighting the system’ be it in your family, place of work or the greater sphere of community or government. When Saturn is retrograde there also tends to be a lack of boundaries.. so be mindful of saying YES to everything and then feeling overwhelmed and a loss of power.

Take the opportunity during Saturn retro to do some deep soul searching, assess what needs to change and prepare for this change once Saturn moves direct. It is a time to assess our failures, learn from our mistakes and emerge from the introspection with wisdom and understanding.

Uranus Retrograde – 2018
7 August 2018 (Taurus) – 7 January 2019 (Aries)

Uranus takes about 84 years to do a complete revolution around our Sun, thus spending about 7 years in each sign of the Zodiac. Uranus moves into retrograde approximately every year for around 148 days.

With Uranus, simply ‘expect the unexpected’. Uranus is like a wildcard of the pack, unpredictable, original and out of the box thinking. Uranus can spark revolutions as it has its gaze on more humanitarian, freedom loving and unconventional pursuits.

When Uranus is retro, chaos is often the order of the day as you expect the unexpected of an unexpectable planet ! If you are shy you may find yourself at the centre of attention, or if you are an extrovert you may find yourself hiding away. You may find your personality or behavior quite altered at this time, as your actions in the world oppose what others normally experience or expect of you.

Take the opportunity during Uranus retro to explore inwardly what freedom means to you and what you need to change to be this freedom. Intuition is heightened during this self-help psychological assessment and real ‘ah-ha’ moments are often the order of the day.

Neptune Retrograde – 2018
19 June 2018 (Pisces) – 25 November 2018 (Pisces)

Neptune takes about 165 years to do a complete revolution around our Sun, thus spending about 14 years in each sign of the Zodiac. Neptune moves into retrograde approximately every year for around 150 days.

Neptune is often referred to as the ‘higher octave’ cousin of Venus. Thus our values for love, beauty and passions become more ‘universal’ through Neptune. Neptune is the planet of the mysterious, the illusionary and beyond the confines of the program. It calls us to gain insights from higher states of conscious/awareness/dream state. In it’s polarity, Neptune can also represent the hypnotic trance like state of delusion.

When Neptune is retrograde, people tend to focus more on their dreams, intuition and all creative pursuits. If you are usually in a ‘dream state’ you may find that you work with retro energy to bring this dream into physical form. If you deny the dream state, then retro may induce escapism and the taking of mind-altering substances to block the dream or movie from playing out.

During Neptune retro, turn into the inner-self and be receptive to the truth. The illusion is exposed and reality is factual. This is a great time to foster the inner-creative and bring it into physical form.

Pluto Retrograde – 2018
22 April 2018 (Capricorn) – 1 October 2018 (Capricorn)

Pluto takes 248 years to do a complete revolution around our Sun, thus spending on average about 21 years (12 to 31 years) in each sign of the Zodiac. Pluto moves into retrograde approximately every year for around 5 or 6 months.

PLUTO is the outer most planet in our solar system (and yes it is still a planet in astrology).. and its energy brings about transformation. Pluto induces us to look into the deep recesses of our subconscious and transform that which doesn’t serve. Of course we all have free will & choice… but Pluto has a unique way of pushing your buttons and ‘making you’ transform or else ! Pluto can be pretty intense, but it can also make things happen ! Pluto is about death & birth, destruction & reformation, and endings & beginnings.

When Pluto is retrograde, we are guided to turn inward to our own personal shadow side and take a long hard look at the good, the bad and the ugly. There is no hiding as we ‘see’ our desires and our feelings around power, control and money. And we also ‘see’ our motivation for our desires, ie is it for revenge is it because we really want it ! It is also a time to revisit some of those old wounds, perceived limitations and purge then out of our lives.

During Pluto retro, it is a time to transcend control and acknowledge that transformation will take place. We can flow with the destruction that may come with this inner-phase or we can move through it kicking and screaming… and well simply cause even more unnecessary pain and hurt within our lives.