Working With The Retrogrades
Every few months, you’ll see the internet light up with headlines like: “Mercury is in Retrograde—Brace Yourself!” or “Beware the Chaos of Planetary Retrogrades!”
It’s easy to assume that retrogrades are something to fear, avoid, or merely survive. But what if they’re not here to derail us—but to re-align us?
Here’s a fresh perspective: retrogrades are cosmic invitations to pause, reflect, and grow. When we stop resisting them and start working with them, these periods can become some of the most healing and transformative times in our lives.
What Is a Retrograde, Really?
In astrology, a retrograde happens when a planet appears to move backward in the sky from our perspective on Earth. It’s not actually reversing direction—but the energetic effect is one of reversal, slowdown, or review.
Each planet governs different aspects of our lives, so each retrograde invites us to revisit those specific themes. Think of it as a planetary “audit” — a chance to clean house, tie up loose ends, and see what needs to change.
If you have ever been to the beach, then you have probably seen warning signs and notices about Rip Currents. Rip currents are powerful, narrow channels of fast-moving water. Moving at speeds of up to eight feet per second, rip currents can move faster than an Olympic swimmer. If you are swimming in a rip they push you out away from shore. Swimmers who are caught in a rip current and who do not understand what is happening, or who may not have the necessary water skills, may panic, or they may exhaust themselves by trying to swim directly against the flow of water. This is kind of how the energy of retrogrades work. Even the motions of the water of rip currents and the motions of a retrograde planet are similar.
Similarly the advice on how to survive and rip current and a retrograde are the same. Direct from N.O.A.A (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration), If you do get caught in a rip current, the best thing you can do is stay calm. It's not going to pull you underwater, it's just going to pull you away from shore. You want to float, and you don't want to swim back to shore against the rip current because it will just tire you out. You want to swim out of the rip, parallel to shore, along the beach and then follow breaking waves back to shore at an angle. This is exactly how you “survive” a retrograde. These “slow down” periods are designed so that we can calmly reassess all the big questions proposed by the planet in question. If you work with it, you make it back to shore a little wiser. If you fight against it, you tire yourself out and may be in big trouble.
The Gifts Hidden in Retrogrades
Mercury Retrograde
(Communication, Thought, Travel, Habits)
- Instead of dreading tech glitches or travel mix-ups, use this time to revisit conversations, re-read contracts, and reconnect with your inner voice.
- Journal. Reflect. Re-evaluate how you speak your truth. Mercury retrograde is not the time to rush ahead—it’s the time to double-check your map.
Venus Retrograde
(Self-Love, Beauty, Values, Relationships)
- Old lovers might text you, but this isn’t just about romance drama. It’s a potent time to reflect on how you give and receive love—and how you value yourself.
- Reconnect with your creativity, redefine your aesthetics, and ask: What truly makes me feel loved and beautiful?
Mars Retrograde
(Action, Desire, Conflict, Aggression)
- When drive slows, it’s a signal to reassess how and why you’re pursuing your goals.
- Are you acting from passion or pressure? This is the time to refine your strategy, not bulldoze forward.
Jupiter Retrograde
(Personal Growth, Inner Expansion, Beliefs)
- Introspection: This period is ideal for pausing and examining where you are in your life, what you've learned, and what truly aligns with your core values and purpose. This is where we wake up our inner truth.
- You might identify areas where you've overextended yourself or taken on too much, allowing you to make necessary adjustments for future success.
Saturn Retrograde
(Restructing, Consequences, Responsibility)
- A review of established commitments, structures, and boundaries. It prompts an evaluation of whether these still support long-term goals and growth or need restructuring.
- This period can highlight where responsibility has been avoided, encouraging accountability for actions and their consequences.
Uranus Retrograde (Liberation, Awakening, Forced Change)
- This is a time to explore and define your personal freedom and individuality, breaking free from self-imposed limitations or external expectations that no longer serve you.
- Identify areas where you feel confined or limited. This transit encourages you to question the status quo and explore new ways of thinking and being.
Neptune Retrograde
(Dreams, Illusions, Spirituality, Escapism)
- This retrograde can force people to confront areas where they have been living in fantasy or avoiding reality. It encourages seeing situations and relationships realistically, even if it means acknowledging uncomfortable truths.
- Neptune is connected to the subconscious mind. Its retrograde period can bring up buried emotions and past issues, offering an opportunity to address and heal them.
Pluto Retrograde
(Destruction, Transformation, Power)
- This period compels you to confront your fears, reassess your beliefs, and examine your mindset and relationships, particularly those involving power and control. You may revisit past decisions and use those lessons to build a stronger future.
- Pluto, associated with death and rebirth, emphasizes that growth requires letting go of what no longer serves your higher purpose. This period can reveal hidden financial truths, spark vivid dreams, or bring past relationships back into the spotlight for resolution.
This is the energy of the retrogrades, depending on the House these planets are retrograde in, can shift the energy. Example: If you had Mercury retrograde in your 7th House of Relationships, communication could be difficult with your partner, resulting in a restructuring of the communication dynamic. Pay attention to the House and Zodiac Sign of these retrogrades. They all have a unique expression that teaches us different lessons.
How to Work With The Retrogrades
- Don’t Panic—Plan.
Retrogrades aren’t random punishments. They’re rhythmic. Expect them, prepare for them, and work with their cycles like a surfer riding the tide. - Embrace the "Re" Words.
Reflect, review, revise, reconnect, release, realign. These are the magic verbs of retrograde seasons. - Slow Down, Tune In.
Retrogrades pull us inward. Meditation, journaling, therapy, long walks—these aren’t just self-care. They’re tools for navigation. - Be Gentle With Yourself and Others.
Miscommunications happen. Emotions surface. Give space. Apologize when needed. Breathe. You’re growing. - Remain Flexible
Plans made can change or fall apart completely. This could be a very frustrating time period. Make sure you leave room for last minute changes and have backup plans for everything.
The Bottom Line
Retrogrades aren’t roadblocks—they’re recalibrations. The universe doesn’t send you backwards to punish you; it asks you to revisit something vital before moving forward again. Like editing a manuscript before it’s published, retrogrades are the cosmic editors of our lives.
So next time a planet appears to go retrograde, take a breath. Don’t curse the cosmos—co-create with it. You just might find that your biggest setbacks were actually setting you up for alignment, insight, and truth.
