The Retrograde Breakdown for 2018.

Image: NASA

We’re in a strange time with the overarching theme of RETROGRADE. This year, we’re getting an overlap of six planets in retrograde at the same time.

With the popularity of “Mercury Retrograde,” people have come to think of retrograde planets as the harbingers of doom, wreaking havoc all over our worlds, but they kick up dust in varying degrees. While their intensities are different, each dust storm creates an opportunity for self-examination without training wheels, so to speak, when we can work on adjustments as we get a clear reflection of our past behaviours in the areas governed by the affected planet.

Jupiter

  • governs travel, abundance, good luck, self-reflection, introspection
  • Rx since March 8. Ends July 10th. Scorpio.
  • No big spends or inflexible travel if you can help it. Take time to self-reflect and research travel plans, etc.

Saturn

  • governs “karma”, responsibility, structure, scheduling, self-discipline, obstacles
  • Rx since April 17th. Ends September 6th. Capricorn.
  • Dig deep into self-assessment, make a plan for what needs to change. Implement the changes once the rx ends. Assess failures, learn from mistakes, go slowly in doing things to avoid mistakes that repeat themselves. Watch out for a tendency to say yes to too many commitments.

Pluto

  • governs transformation – major changes, inescapable lights shone on all aspects of your life – rx makes the light turn inward
  • Rx since April 22nd. Ends September 30th. Capricorn.
  • Embrace the fact that you drew a planetary “death” card – meaning a huge change. It can absolutely be positive, but it may not start out that way. You can use any huge change to make adjustments to your life for the better.

Neptune

  • governs psychic and spiritual matters, dreaming – like Venus with her third eye open
  • Rx on June 18th. Ends 24th of November. Pisces.
  • This is the time to get into creative work, your inner truths and intuition, engage with art and beauty. Pay attention to dreams and dream-states.

Mars

  • governs passion, physical strength and activity, sexuality, aggression, initiative
  • Rx on the 26th of June. Ends August 27th. Aquarius and Capricorn.
  • Don’t fight it. Schedule downtime to minimize frustration, or see how a change in scheduling can benefit you in other ways.

Mercury

  • governs technology of all kinds, plans, communication, meetings
  • Rx on July 26th. Ends August 19th. Leo.
  • Rx again on 17th November. Ends 7th December. Sagittarius and Scorpio.
  • Double check everything! As much as you can, use Mercury’s retrograde to focus inward and recalibrate, and take actions on plans when it’s out of retrograde.

Later retrograde periods this year:

Venus

  • governs familial, personal and business relationships and our relationship to beauty and art
  • Rx on the 6th of October. Ends 16th of November. Scorpio and Libra.
  • Watch out for big relationship decisions – starting, changing or stopping relationships during this time. Use the time to assess.

Uranus

  • governs the unexpected – can spark beneficial revolution and creative thinking, but also chaos
  • Rx on 7th August 2018. Ends 7th January 2019. Taurus and Aries.
  • Embrace heightened intuition, assess what in your life is keeping you from your idea of freedom.