Retrograde literally means “backwards.” Although none of the
planets ever really throw their engines in reverse and move
backward, all of them, except for the Sun and Moon, appear to do
so periodically, from our perspective here on Earth. What’s
happening is that we’re moving either faster or slower than the
planet that’s in retrograde, and since we have to look over our
shoulder to see it, we refer to it as retrograde.
Mercury Retrograde
The way retrograde planets seem to affect our affairs varies from
planet to planet. In Mercury’s case, it means often looking back
at Mercury-ruled things – communications, contracts, and so on.
Keep in mind that Mercury correlates with Hermes, the original
trickster, and you’ll understand how cleverly disguised some of
these errors can be. Communications become confused, or are
delayed. Letters are lost of sent to Auckland instead of Oakland.
Or they end up under the car seat for three weeks.
We sign a contract or agreement and find out later that we didn’t
have al the correct information, and what we signed was misleading
in some way. We try repeatedly to reach someone via telephone but
can never catch him or her at home, or our communications devices
themselves break down or garble information in some way.
We feel as if our timing is off, so short trips often become more
difficult. We leave the directions at home or write them down
incorrectly. We’re late for appointments due to circumstances
beyond our control, or we completely forget about them.
Is there a constructive use to this time period? Yes. Astrologer
Erin Sullivan has noted that the ratio of time Mercury spends
moving retrograde and direct corresponds beautifully with the
amount of time we humans spend asleep and awake. So this period
seems to be a time to take stock of what’s happened to us over the
past three months, and assimilate our experiences.
A rule of thumb with Mercury retrograde is to try to confine
activities to those that have “re” attached to the beginning of a
word: reschedule, repair, return, rewrite, redecorate, restore,
replace, renovate, renew, for example.
Retrograde Motion of Other Planets
With Venus retrograde, relationships and money matters are delayed
or muddled.
With Mars (retrograde for eleven weeks, and then direct for twenty-
two months), actions initiated are often rooted in confusion or
end up at cross-purposes to our original intentions. Typically,
under a Mars retrograde, the aggressor or initiator of a battle is
defeated.
Jupiter retrogrades for four months and is direct for nine months.
Saturn retrogrades for about the same amount of time. Each of the
outer planets – Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto – stays retrograde for
about six or seven months of every year.
In general, remember that actions ruled by a particular planet
quite often need to be repeated or done over when that planet is
in retrograde. Just make sure that whatever you’re planning is
something you don’t mind doing twice.
planets ever really throw their engines in reverse and move
backward, all of them, except for the Sun and Moon, appear to do
so periodically, from our perspective here on Earth. What’s
happening is that we’re moving either faster or slower than the
planet that’s in retrograde, and since we have to look over our
shoulder to see it, we refer to it as retrograde.
Mercury Retrograde
The way retrograde planets seem to affect our affairs varies from
planet to planet. In Mercury’s case, it means often looking back
at Mercury-ruled things – communications, contracts, and so on.
Keep in mind that Mercury correlates with Hermes, the original
trickster, and you’ll understand how cleverly disguised some of
these errors can be. Communications become confused, or are
delayed. Letters are lost of sent to Auckland instead of Oakland.
Or they end up under the car seat for three weeks.
We sign a contract or agreement and find out later that we didn’t
have al the correct information, and what we signed was misleading
in some way. We try repeatedly to reach someone via telephone but
can never catch him or her at home, or our communications devices
themselves break down or garble information in some way.
We feel as if our timing is off, so short trips often become more
difficult. We leave the directions at home or write them down
incorrectly. We’re late for appointments due to circumstances
beyond our control, or we completely forget about them.
Is there a constructive use to this time period? Yes. Astrologer
Erin Sullivan has noted that the ratio of time Mercury spends
moving retrograde and direct corresponds beautifully with the
amount of time we humans spend asleep and awake. So this period
seems to be a time to take stock of what’s happened to us over the
past three months, and assimilate our experiences.
A rule of thumb with Mercury retrograde is to try to confine
activities to those that have “re” attached to the beginning of a
word: reschedule, repair, return, rewrite, redecorate, restore,
replace, renovate, renew, for example.
Retrograde Motion of Other Planets
With Venus retrograde, relationships and money matters are delayed
or muddled.
With Mars (retrograde for eleven weeks, and then direct for twenty-
two months), actions initiated are often rooted in confusion or
end up at cross-purposes to our original intentions. Typically,
under a Mars retrograde, the aggressor or initiator of a battle is
defeated.
Jupiter retrogrades for four months and is direct for nine months.
Saturn retrogrades for about the same amount of time. Each of the
outer planets – Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto – stays retrograde for
about six or seven months of every year.
In general, remember that actions ruled by a particular planet
quite often need to be repeated or done over when that planet is
in retrograde. Just make sure that whatever you’re planning is
something you don’t mind doing twice.
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| Choosing what is Right over what is Easy |
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Moon Void-of-Course
The Moon orbits Earth in about twenty-eight days, moving through
each of the signs in about two days. As she passes through the 30
degrees of each sign, she “visits” with the planets in order by
forming angles or aspects with them. Because she moves one degree
in just two to two-and-a-half hours, her influence on each planet
lasts only a few hours.
As she approaches the late degrees of the sign she’s passing
through, she eventually forms what will be her final aspect to
another planet before leaving the sign. From this point until she
actually enters the new sign, she is referred to as void-of-course
(v/c).
The Moon is the emotional “tone” of the day, carrying feelings
with her particular to the sign she’s “wearing” at the moment. She
rules instincts.
After she has contacted each of the planets, she symbolically
“rests” before changing her costume, so her instincts are
temporarily on hold. It’s during this time that many people feel
“fuzzy” or “vague” – scattered, even. Plans or decisions we make
now will usually not pan out.
Without the instinctual “knowing” the Moon provides as she touches
each planet, we tend to be unrealistic or exercise poor judgment.
The traditional definition of the void-of-course Moon is that
“nothing will come of this,” and it seems to be true. Actions
initiated under a void-of-course Moon are often wasted,
irrelevant, or incorrect – usually because information needed to
make a sound decision is hidden or missing, or has been overlooked.
Now, although it’s not a good time to initiate plans, routine
tasks seem to go along just fine. However, this period is really
ideal for what the Moon does best – reflection. It’s at this time
that we can assimilate what has occurred over the past few days.
Use this time to meditate, ponder and imagine. Let your conscious
mind rest and allow yourself to feel.
On the lighter side, remember that there are other good uses for
the void-of-course Moon. This is the time period when the universe
seems to be most open to loop-holes. It’s a great time to make
plans you don’t want to fulfill or schedule things you don’t want
to do. In other words, like the song says, “To everything, there
is a season.” Even void-of-course Moons.
The Moon Cycle
As the Moon goes along her way, she magically appears and
disappears, waxing to full from the barest sliver of a crescent
just after she’s new, then waning back to her invisible new phase
again. The four quarters – the New Moon, the second quarter, the
Full Moon, and the fourth quarter – correspond to the growth cycle
of every living thing.
The Quarters
First Quarter
This phase begins when the Moon and the Sun are conjunct one
another in the sky. At the beginning of the phase, the Moon is
invisible, hidden by the brightness of the Sun as they travel
together. The Moon is often said to be in her “dark phase” when
she is just new. The New Moon can’t actually be seen until 5-1/2
to 12 hours after its birth.
Toward the end of the first quarter phase, as the Moon pulls
farther away from the Sun and she begins to wax toward the second
quarter stage, a delicate silver crescent appears. This time
corresponds to all new beginnings; this is the best time to begin
a project.
Second Quarter
The second quarter begins when the Moon has moved 90 degrees away
from the Sun. At this point, the waxing Moon rises at about noon
and sets at about midnight. It’s at this time that she can be seen
in the western sky during the evening hours, growing in size from
a crescent to her full beauty. This period corresponds to the
development and growth of life, and to projects that are coming
close to fruition.
Third Quarter
This phase begins with the Full Moon, when the Sun and Moon are
opposite one another in the sky. It’s now that she can be seen
rising in the east at sunset, a bit later each night as this phase
progresses. This time corresponds to the culmination of plans and
to maturity.
Fourth Quarter
This phase occurs when the Moon has moved 90 degrees past the full
phase. She is decreasing in light, rises at midnight, and can be
seen now in the eastern sky during the pre-dawn hours. She doesn’t
reach the highest point in the sky until very early in the
morning. This period corresponds to “disintegration” – a symbolic
“drawing back” to reflect on what’s been accomplished. It’s now
time to recognize, clear the boards, and plan for the next New
Moon stage.
The Moon orbits Earth in about twenty-eight days, moving through
each of the signs in about two days. As she passes through the 30
degrees of each sign, she “visits” with the planets in order by
forming angles or aspects with them. Because she moves one degree
in just two to two-and-a-half hours, her influence on each planet
lasts only a few hours.
As she approaches the late degrees of the sign she’s passing
through, she eventually forms what will be her final aspect to
another planet before leaving the sign. From this point until she
actually enters the new sign, she is referred to as void-of-course
(v/c).
The Moon is the emotional “tone” of the day, carrying feelings
with her particular to the sign she’s “wearing” at the moment. She
rules instincts.
After she has contacted each of the planets, she symbolically
“rests” before changing her costume, so her instincts are
temporarily on hold. It’s during this time that many people feel
“fuzzy” or “vague” – scattered, even. Plans or decisions we make
now will usually not pan out.
Without the instinctual “knowing” the Moon provides as she touches
each planet, we tend to be unrealistic or exercise poor judgment.
The traditional definition of the void-of-course Moon is that
“nothing will come of this,” and it seems to be true. Actions
initiated under a void-of-course Moon are often wasted,
irrelevant, or incorrect – usually because information needed to
make a sound decision is hidden or missing, or has been overlooked.
Now, although it’s not a good time to initiate plans, routine
tasks seem to go along just fine. However, this period is really
ideal for what the Moon does best – reflection. It’s at this time
that we can assimilate what has occurred over the past few days.
Use this time to meditate, ponder and imagine. Let your conscious
mind rest and allow yourself to feel.
On the lighter side, remember that there are other good uses for
the void-of-course Moon. This is the time period when the universe
seems to be most open to loop-holes. It’s a great time to make
plans you don’t want to fulfill or schedule things you don’t want
to do. In other words, like the song says, “To everything, there
is a season.” Even void-of-course Moons.
The Moon Cycle
As the Moon goes along her way, she magically appears and
disappears, waxing to full from the barest sliver of a crescent
just after she’s new, then waning back to her invisible new phase
again. The four quarters – the New Moon, the second quarter, the
Full Moon, and the fourth quarter – correspond to the growth cycle
of every living thing.
The Quarters
First Quarter
This phase begins when the Moon and the Sun are conjunct one
another in the sky. At the beginning of the phase, the Moon is
invisible, hidden by the brightness of the Sun as they travel
together. The Moon is often said to be in her “dark phase” when
she is just new. The New Moon can’t actually be seen until 5-1/2
to 12 hours after its birth.
Toward the end of the first quarter phase, as the Moon pulls
farther away from the Sun and she begins to wax toward the second
quarter stage, a delicate silver crescent appears. This time
corresponds to all new beginnings; this is the best time to begin
a project.
Second Quarter
The second quarter begins when the Moon has moved 90 degrees away
from the Sun. At this point, the waxing Moon rises at about noon
and sets at about midnight. It’s at this time that she can be seen
in the western sky during the evening hours, growing in size from
a crescent to her full beauty. This period corresponds to the
development and growth of life, and to projects that are coming
close to fruition.
Third Quarter
This phase begins with the Full Moon, when the Sun and Moon are
opposite one another in the sky. It’s now that she can be seen
rising in the east at sunset, a bit later each night as this phase
progresses. This time corresponds to the culmination of plans and
to maturity.
Fourth Quarter
This phase occurs when the Moon has moved 90 degrees past the full
phase. She is decreasing in light, rises at midnight, and can be
seen now in the eastern sky during the pre-dawn hours. She doesn’t
reach the highest point in the sky until very early in the
morning. This period corresponds to “disintegration” – a symbolic
“drawing back” to reflect on what’s been accomplished. It’s now
time to recognize, clear the boards, and plan for the next New
Moon stage.