Category: Saturn

Five Planets Retrograde In April – How To Survive Them

Astro Butterfly

In April we have a record number of 5 (FIVE) planets retrograde. The Universe is asking us to “sort out” our life and redefine our reality and how we operate in it. This retrograde period is “three-dimensional” as it will ask us to look at ourselves (our thoughts, our communication – Mercury and our set of values – Venus) at our environment (Jupiter and Saturn) and at how everything  fits together in the grand scheme of things (Pluto).

5 retrograde planets

When is so much retrograde power in the air, we need to slow down any pay attention. Old patterns of thinking and old habits that no longer serve us will be brought to our awareness and challenged.

What is even more interesting is that 4 planets out of the 5 actually change direction in April. Yes, only Jupiter is already retrograde and won’t change direction. All the other planets station and change direction in April, increasing their influence few days before and after their station:

  • Saturn turns retrograde on April 6th at 27° Sagittarius
  • Mercury turns retrograde on April 9th at 4° Taurus
  • Venus turns direct on April 15th at 26° Pisces
  • Pluto turns retrograde on April 20th at 19° Capricorn

So if you have planets or angles around 27° Sagittarius, 4° Taurus, 26° Pisces or 19° Capricorn you will be especially affected. Pay attention especially if you have planets around 26°-27° in any Mutable sign (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces) because the square between Venus and Saturn, – both stationary – will hit you hard.

Retrograde periods are good times to remember, re-assess , re-think, repair ,  restructure, re-invent  anything that needs a “RE” in your life.

And although the world will seem to “slow down”,  for some of us things will feel “just right”. Yes, if you have in your natal chart 4, 5 or even more planets retrograde then you will rather feel “in sync” with this energy, especially if you have a combination of Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn or Pluto retrograde.

For people with none, 1 or maximum 2 planets retrograde, things will be quite different. For example, I don’t have any planet retrograde. Everytime there are 4 or more planets retrograde I feel very tired, that’s why I learned to schedule holidays around the retrogrades and take the opportunity to recharge my batteries.

Now let’s have a look at how to deal with each of these retrogrades – focus on the one affecting you the most:

Saturn and Venus (26°-27° mutable signs)

I group them together because they are at the same mathematical degree and in square – so if you have planets around 26-27° in Mutable signs both Venus and Saturn stations will affect you.

The transit is quite heavy and will very likely ask you to sort out some emotional baggage from your life – old lovers, events from the past, buried feelings of rejection, isolation, and loneliness.

“The only baggage you can bring is all that you can’t leave behind” – Venus square Saturn will ask you to do some soul searching and decide what are you going to keep in this baggage. What are those key values that you cannot live without?

Anything else can be left behind. Remember, you will carry this luggage for the rest of your life (or at least until you have another potent Venus transit) – so you want to keep it light. How much are you willing to carry on your back from now on?

Now is your opportunity to really incorporate the Saturnine lessons. Your heart will be stronger and wiser after this process. And because Chiron is conjunct Venus, the opportunity for healing is real. Old wounds may the toughest to heal, but it is when we take the courage to face them, that we can release them and set ourselves free.

What to do about Venus retrograde: Make a list with your values, everything that is dear to you. For each value associate an object. How much does the object weight? Write it down – how many pounds/kilos? Now sum everything up. How heavy it is? What do you need to cut from that list so you leave only few items that you can carry on lightly?

Mercury (4° Taurus)

The lesson of this Mercury station is sustained focus. A Mercury Taurus retrograde cycle is here to teach us to focus our mind and be resilient against distractions.

What to do about Mercury retrograde: Make a list with all the worries, all the distractions, all the unfinished tasks that clutter your mind and affect your focus. Then “schedule” 1 hour per day to solve them. You may notice that by simply writing down your unfinished tasks and worries on a piece of paper, by “acknowledging” them, your mind can finally relax and focus on things that are more important. You can do this exercise anytime, best to do it around April 19th when Mercury and Sun will be in an inferior conjunction. Later in April you may discover you have found some innovative solutions for some of your worries, as Mercury will spend quite a lot of time near Uranus.

Pluto (19° Capricorn)

Pluto will activate the Jupiter Uranus opposition, making this station very confrontational – BUT also thanks to the progressive energy of Jupiter and Uranus, this station will give you an unique opportunity to achieve great progress in the area of your life (the house) transited by Pluto.

When direct, Pluto transforms matter and energy from one state to another. When retrograde, Pluto purges the “toxins” from the body, the mind, the spirit, so that a new cycle of life can emerge. What needs to be purged from your life?  Pluto stationary retrograde will ask you to allow natural death to take its course for anything that no longer serves you.  Let nature have its way. You will not only “survive” without this debrief, but you will be better equipped for the future.

What to do about Pluto retrograde: Keep a diary and write down in detail each event, each thought, each feeling that triggers a defense mechanism inside you. For each of these items, write down what are you afraid of losing if you “submit” to change. And then write down what could be the possible “benefits” for each of these changes. 

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Saturn is Square the Nodes of the Moon

Astro Butterfly

The past creates the future and the future is a reflection of the past.

The Nodes of the Moon represent the pathway of our soul’s evolutionary journey from the past (the South Node) to the future (the North Node).  The North Node is the direction our Soul longs to go towards in this life, our calling, and the South Node is the direction we need to move away from—the default patterns “inherited” from another life. Yet, you cannot cut the cords of the past. The past needs to be acknowledged. Our future self is just a step forward, another ring in a tree trunk.

saturn-square-north-node-south-node

Saturn rules our conditioning or the way we were taught and brought up in the world, our “playground” – remember Saturn has rings? The ring marks the border between what is allowed and was is not. It reminds us of our boundaries, responsibilities and commitments. That’s why Saturn is associated with restrictions and limitations, but with this, it also brings structure and meaning to our life. Saturn has the power to manifest whatever we put our mind to, as long as feasibility criteria are satisfied. Saturn’s lessons actually help us to grow. Saturn cherishes maturity and experience.

Saturn square to the North Node and to the South Node plays an extremely important role in our evolution.

The Nodes call for a development of the Saturnian function, and a wise use of our natural talents and resources. Saturn wants to break down the ego structures that no longer serve us in order to “create” a better version of ourselves. But for this, we must develop strength, order and self-discipline.

Are you stuck in your life? You know if you are stuck in your South Node when everything is quite ok …but something is not quite right. There is something in your psyche that tries to convince you that where you are is good enough (South Node). But still, deep down, you know you are stagnating. You know that you are being called towards something else. That you were brought into this world for a purpose  (North Node). You don’t know what that is yet but you know you need to move towards it, even if the possibility of the unknown frightens you.

The effects of this transit have been present for a few weeks already and will continue for a new more weeks. We will all feel this transit, and those of us with planets and angles around 12° in Mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces) will feel it even more.

Questions to reflect upon during the Saturn square Nodes transit:

  • Do you live in the past, present or future?
  • Do you play small or do you take chances in your life?
  • Are you self-disciplined enough to make good progress towards your goals? Or you’re rather scattered and uncommitted?
  • In which areas of your life you need to overcome your insecurities? Do you explore the fullest potential that you are capable of being?
  • How do you get to your North Node? What has been left unresolved from past and needs to be addressed, now or never?
  • Can you appreciate your unique features and regard them as a beauty all your own? Can you say “I am good enough”?
  • Where is the clutter in your life? In your living room? In your relationships? Your career? Your health? How are you going to get rid of it?

Jupiter Square Saturn

Astro Butterfly

 

Jupiter in Virgo squares Saturn in Sagittarius around May 26.

jupiter-square-saturn

The planet of beliefs, spirituality and abundance (Jupiter) gets crossed with the serious and disciplined Saturn. The result? I wiser Jupiter, and a more relaxed Saturn.

Because Jupiter and Saturn are interpersonal planets (so is not much we can do really to influence this aspect), we will be asked to adjust our beliefs, while keeping the faith that the universe is working in our best interest.