Want to listen to this post? 

I just finished reading Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer, a horror novel about (un)natural phenomenon. I was struck by how terrifying a disordered ecosystem could be. To even recognize a disordered ecosystem we either need to be outdoor enthusiasts or biologists. Most of us are neither. Today, observation of the natural world is outside the norm.

Most superstitions originate with an observation in the natural world interpreted as an omen.

Even though our relationship with omens predates our modern love affair with science, they still sometimes prove useful. And so omens persist. Retrograde planets are planets that when observed from earth appear to slow down and/or move in reverse. From a geocentric perspective, everything seen in the night sky would have been as it seemed.

Modern solar-centric astronomy teaches us that planets don’t, in fact, slow down or reverse their motion, it just appears that way from earth. But when ancient humans observed the planets seemingly deviating from their usual behavior it was taken as a bad omen.

It’s unimportant what the planets do. What matters are common beliefs about the “omen.” Retrograde motion is cyclical. It doesn’t matter if we aren’t outside at night watching to see what planet do. On some level, we can feel the pull of collective belief.

We mimic astrological beliefs/trends with our unconscious behavior, or we interact with people that do. This has nothing to do with whether we believe in astrology.  If we witnessed our family experience stress at certain times of the year, we would inherit their beliefs about seasons.  We perpetuate, and the cycle continues.

My beliefs about retrogrades are paradoxical and entirely self-serving. When it serves me to believe that perceived retrograde planetary motion is arbitrary and benign, I go ahead and do that. When it’s ideal to believe that retrogrades are relevant and cautionary, I mind the retrogrades.

In either instance, I remain aware. Awareness is free and, as long as I temper it by not fixating, wasting time, or projecting my beliefs on others, pretty harmless.  Now that you know a bit about retrogrades are here is what is going in 2018.

Ok, Siobhan, but what does all that mean?

Remember last time when I said the zodiac signs are the playlist for the year? Last month we talked about sex, death, power (and Alanis Morissette). Right now we’re experiencing Mercury retrograde in the sign of Sagittarius. Just as these theme songs play in our life they play for aspects and planetary motion, such as retrogrades.

The sign of Sagittarius is about hitting the road literally or philosophically. It’s Iggy and Bowie jamming out in a car, driving without licenses while they toured the country. It’s the urge to get bigger or get gone, inspired by the giant planet Jupiter. This is a gross oversimplification.

When you have the stomach for more geekery, see if you have any retrogrades at your time of birth. Retrogrades in the natal chart mean your personality has a retrograde flavor and that you may experience retrogrades differently than other folks. Think of the feeling of ‘coming home,’ rather than being ‘cast out.’

What a retrograde means depends on which planet and where in the sky.The same is true for each retrograde in a year, their meaning depends on which planet and where, in which sign, it happens. Each of the signs is associated with a house and the house depends on your own chart. This level of detail (and confusion frankly, let’s be honest) is what makes it possible for horoscopes to be specific on an unreal level.

Mercury retrograde in Sagittarius

Let’s talk a bit about Mercury in a general sense. It’s a fast moving planet. Fast like the god Mercury/Hermes with the wings on his ankles. It will retrograde four times a year, completing each cycle around the sun in 88 days.

This is Mercury. Is that a penis? Just what is going on in this photo…

Fast planets don’t have the gravitas of the larger slower moving planets. For example, Jupiter takes 12 years to complete its revolution and Saturn 29.5! These slow planets have more penetrating effects.

Saturn just recently left its retrograde shadow, the shadow is the period just before and after retrograde, on December 1st after turning retrograde in April of 2017. All the slower moving planets spend 3 – 6 months or so retrograde. The faster moving planets like Venus, Mars, and Mercury, do their thing in a matter of weeks.

Slow planet shifts affect societies. Think Charlottesville and this hellish tax scam. What does Mercury effect? Day to day exchanges of information, communication, contracts, marketplaces.

How should you use this information? Move like the planets do…

When Mercury does it’s retrograde dance it follows a pattern. On November 14th it entered its retrograde shadow. This is like getting on stage and setting up while the lights are out. It’s not quite time to strike the final pose that will greet the audience, but it’s close.

On December 3rd Mercury stationed retrograde. Lights come on, curtains lifts, music starts. At this time, some folks miscommunicate, sign contracts they regret, lose important data. Others revisit unfinished conversations, relearn educational material, revisit back up plans and other general maintenance. Such are the themes of Mercury.

On December 22nd Mercury stations direct. Music finishes, the lights come on, and there’s a moment for applause, or throwing tomatoes depending on your feelings. It’s the aftermath, where everything settles.

It’s not ‘til January 10th that Mercury finally leaves its retrograde shadow again. The dance is complete. The curtains fall. All are safe from Mercury’s performance (for the time being).

What does it mean to move like the planets?

Most of us think in terms of on and off switches. We’re on or we’re off. We’re doing or we aren’t doing. But this isn’t really how it is in nature. It is not the most natural cycle. If you want to move, be promoted, launch, create, or change anything, do it in phases just as the planets would.

Enter the shadow

Just as Mercury would, start your ventures with an information gathering period, with a period of silence, reflection, or prayer. With a brainstorm. The highest tier of these Ultimate Scopes involves a guided walk through the events of the year for the purpose of integration. It’s that last breath we take before we start and it is just as important as the walk onto the stage. Treat it like it’s own thing.

Station retrograde

Retrograde motion can feel like a setback and everything we do when we have setbacks. We need to regroup. Sometimes we realize flaws in our plan. Sometimes we learn we should have gotten the oil change or researched the purchase. Don’t think of this as an end, think of this as part of the process and trust that as long as you stay focused it leads to that direct motion you crave.

Station direct

Direct motion only happens when there’s a path laid out for us. We aren’t planets, tethered to our realities by unmovable forces. We have leeway because we are at choice. Conversely, we must create our own gravity. Do that with Discipline. Yes with a capital “D.” Stick to something for long enough to feel the full range of success and failure, ease and discomfort. You learn about yourself each step of the way. Remember that success is not the end of a continuous cycle.

Exit the shadow

Overcoming obstacles we build momentum. We get back up to speed in our lives. This is a temporary state. There will be more setbacks, new and different momentum. Accept the entire process. It means less judgment. It means mistakes are allowed. It means rest is built in. Reflection is built in. Rest, reflection, reevaluation. These are the realm of retrogrades. Make use of omens rather than be paralyzed by them.