Retrograde motion stretches time
By David A. Wheatley
Now is a good time to review the astrology of planets in retrograde, just before the many that have been in retrograde motion turn direct.
Most people familiar with astrology have heard mention of retrograde Mercury. This gets the most attention though it is the shortest duration of all the planets in our solar system when retrograde, and has the least penetrating impact among them. Mercury retrograde asks for the kind of attention to daily responsibilities we all should normally apply. Of course, we all make mistakes, get busy, distracted, or maybe we make mistakes by unconscious design, deliberately. Stuff happens.
The retrograde motion of any planet makes its position as it goes retrograde until weeks after it goes direct more potent. It makes a planet like Venus or Mars more on the level of impact that Jupiter usually works at. It makes the impact of Jupiter or any outer planet far more potent, developing themes from our psyche (that without retrograde motion might only be a meaningful few weeks) into a few months or more. Years even. We grow accustomed to the influence of an outer planet retrograde and integrate it into our lives feeling like it has become the new normal. There ceases to be a contrast, unlike Mercury retrograde with which we run into potholes and soon emerge from them.
Most people familiar with astrology have heard mention of retrograde Mercury. This gets the most attention though it is the shortest duration of all the planets in our solar system when retrograde, and has the least penetrating impact among them. Mercury retrograde asks for the kind of attention to daily responsibilities we all should normally apply. Of course, we all make mistakes, get busy, distracted, or maybe we make mistakes by unconscious design, deliberately. Stuff happens.
The retrograde motion of any planet makes its position as it goes retrograde until weeks after it goes direct more potent. It makes a planet like Venus or Mars more on the level of impact that Jupiter usually works at. It makes the impact of Jupiter or any outer planet far more potent, developing themes from our psyche (that without retrograde motion might only be a meaningful few weeks) into a few months or more. Years even. We grow accustomed to the influence of an outer planet retrograde and integrate it into our lives feeling like it has become the new normal. There ceases to be a contrast, unlike Mercury retrograde with which we run into potholes and soon emerge from them.
By Frog23 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19916758
Planets never move backwards in their orbit around the Sun, which is what retrograde implies. Retrograde motion is an optical illusion only possible as one stands on Earth looking out at the orbit of any planet on the same plane we are on as we orbit around the Sun.
One of the less considered things about retrograde motion is the position Mercury occupies – while in retrograde motion at the closest position in its orbit around the Sun to Earth - thus adding a little more emphasis to whatever Mercury is touching in your chart than at any other time. Diminutive Mercury briefly becomes more impactful when closer to us.
At the moment of this writing Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto are all retrograde. Within a couple weeks Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto will turn direct, Neptune in December and Uranus in January. In April, Pluto will go retrograde again and in little over a month Saturn as well. Among the outer planets which deeply stir major themes in life there are almost always one or two in retrograde motion; often more. This is a normal circumstance among planets whose influences are much more potent than Mercury.
Retrograde motion stretches time. An opportunity that normally opens up with a planetary influence coming with bad or good news is stretched out or even slowed down. We get to soak in it longer and have it penetrate deeper into our psyche, our lives. These are growth opportunities. By taking advantage of them and not avoiding them, the negative potential for damage is reduced; the positive potential for constructive use of these opportunities is increased. We assume more control as the driver of our car if we work with the often awkward circumstances retrogrades bring. We lose authority in our lives by trying to avoid them, and add energy to the obstacle by blocking the necessity of dealing with it, making it more challenging not less.
By the end of October’s second week Pluto then Saturn have ended their retrograde motion and slowly begin to move direct, breaking the log jam of almost all planets being retrograde. Around the same time a New Moon opposes Mars and the Sun in Libra. Between this New Moon and the next Full Moon on October 20th a major shift turns like a ponderous big wheel in the cosmos. Tensions built up by months of retrograde planets begin to come lose. The immediate results are more easily somewhat acrimonious, though wiser minds hopefully prevail in seeking growth opportunities now that growth and development is more likely. Even when critical tensions lead to harsh decisions, keeping an eye on supporting long term growth is more rewarding months from now. Getting lost in the acrimony will lead nowhere.
One of the less considered things about retrograde motion is the position Mercury occupies – while in retrograde motion at the closest position in its orbit around the Sun to Earth - thus adding a little more emphasis to whatever Mercury is touching in your chart than at any other time. Diminutive Mercury briefly becomes more impactful when closer to us.
At the moment of this writing Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto are all retrograde. Within a couple weeks Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto will turn direct, Neptune in December and Uranus in January. In April, Pluto will go retrograde again and in little over a month Saturn as well. Among the outer planets which deeply stir major themes in life there are almost always one or two in retrograde motion; often more. This is a normal circumstance among planets whose influences are much more potent than Mercury.
Retrograde motion stretches time. An opportunity that normally opens up with a planetary influence coming with bad or good news is stretched out or even slowed down. We get to soak in it longer and have it penetrate deeper into our psyche, our lives. These are growth opportunities. By taking advantage of them and not avoiding them, the negative potential for damage is reduced; the positive potential for constructive use of these opportunities is increased. We assume more control as the driver of our car if we work with the often awkward circumstances retrogrades bring. We lose authority in our lives by trying to avoid them, and add energy to the obstacle by blocking the necessity of dealing with it, making it more challenging not less.
By the end of October’s second week Pluto then Saturn have ended their retrograde motion and slowly begin to move direct, breaking the log jam of almost all planets being retrograde. Around the same time a New Moon opposes Mars and the Sun in Libra. Between this New Moon and the next Full Moon on October 20th a major shift turns like a ponderous big wheel in the cosmos. Tensions built up by months of retrograde planets begin to come lose. The immediate results are more easily somewhat acrimonious, though wiser minds hopefully prevail in seeking growth opportunities now that growth and development is more likely. Even when critical tensions lead to harsh decisions, keeping an eye on supporting long term growth is more rewarding months from now. Getting lost in the acrimony will lead nowhere.
David A. Wheatley, October 2021
David Wheatley
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David A. Wheatley has been a Fine Artist/painter since first exhibiting in Soho, New York during the 1970’s. David developed another talent first as a tarot reader then extending into astrological theory, a practice which lead to the development of ideas in his book, 2012 Before and After. Working occasionally as a full time tarot and astrological counselor, David grew familiar with many other related disciplines through the years that add great dimension to astrological traditions, including psychological perspectives and the development of quantum physics. David currently resides in Florida.
Contact David Wheatley at [email protected] for a personal astrological consultation |
