When Mars went retro on April 17th, joined by Mercury Retrograde on April 28th there will be five planets in retrograde for the first time in a decade. Six will be retro grade if you include the minor asteroidal planet Juno. This scenario lasts until mid-September when all six planets will final go direct.
This extreme astrological condition will potentially cause some intense feelings, first of being stuck in molasses and out of sync. Second, it may feel as if you and the world are going crazy. However, according to James Tyberonn, “while exasperating on one level, can also be extraordinarily prolific in resolving karmic issues, and can result in a massive transformation and quantum leap in the higher evolution of your soul this year.”
These planets will affect many principle areas of life, including relationships, communication and expectations for ourselves, others and life in general. Practice patience and compassion for yourself and others. As always, do the inner work of self-reflection and healing when deep conflict arises.
When multiple planets are in retrograde at the same time, there is an intense amplification effect, with the sum being greater than the parts. The most intense time of combination will be from April 28th thru May 9th.
During this time, try your best not to engage conflicts, become apathetic, feel disempowered, over react, over criticize, or focus on fear or anger. Instead, use all of your self-soothing tools, such as: exercise, practice yoga, cleanse, take saunas, meditate, evaluate, focus on positive change. Wear an Amethyst and Lapis Lazuli for protection and clear communication.
Following is a brief outline of each planet and what to expect from the retrogrades.
Mercury Retrograde: Mercury rules communication and travel. During a retrograde flights may be delayed, baggage may be lost, and misunderstandings can occur. Computers, electronics and cars can be a bit more prone to glitches, interruptions and accidents. However, Mercury retrogrades also have a capacity to bring you back to earth, and offer a grounding aspect. This can be a good time to slow down, contemplate, meditate and internalize.
Jupiter Retrograde: Careers and finances seem to come into a slow, even seemingly disruptive period. Confidence can be at a low. What seemed certain may in this phase seem doubtful. You may feel anxious about job security and events may seem to pop up and justify such worry. Particularly in 2016 in the timing of Jupiter in retro simultaneously with Saturn, Mars and Mercury there will be a strong potential for over-worry and over reaction. Focus on the positive and visualize in constructive co-creation, and the final outcome will be far more powerful and positive.
Saturn Retrograde: The 2016 Saturn retro occurs from March 16th thru August 13th. Saturn rules life purpose, along with Karma, structure, order and the way in which we conduct our affairs.
During the 10 weeks of Saturn’s retrograde flow, expect the unexpected. Unsettling surprises, frustrations and slow-downs may occur on a weekly basis. Effective time management even for the most organized people may seem impossible. Projects that seemed online may get sidetracked by the pop-up of unforeseen tasks and unresolved issues of the past.
Mars Retrograde: Mars will be retrograde from the 17th of April thru the 29th of June in 2016. Mars rules energy, action, passion and desire.
When Mars is retrograde, you may not have the energy levels can be low, and projects, love life and goals seem to go on the back burner. A temporal sense of apathy can ensue for the ten weeks of Mars retro.
When Mars and Mercury are in tandem retrograde, it is a time to be very careful, to think twice before engaging any conflict. Tempers can be out of line and reactions can be overly aggressive, unnecessarily hostile and based on illogical & skewed conclusions. This is a time to give others extra space and allow the benefit of the doubt. There is an untoward tendency to be headstrong & stubborn in relationships during Mars retro… to be right at any cost. But it is not a time to burn bridges. Rather, it is a time to pull back and reconsider your own actions.
Pluto Retrograde: Pluto retrograde lasts from April 18 to September 26, 2016. This year’s Pluto retrograde will absolutely tug at you in deep exploration of your inner truth. You may have episodes of low self-esteem in Pluto retrograde, a tendency to concentrate on guilt and mistakes you have made in the past. This is an important timing for prioritizing and reconsidering life purpose and realigning appropriately to your divine self.
Juno Retrograde: (Juno is a planetoid asteroid, discovered by German astronomer, Karl Ludwig Harding, in 1807. It is included in astrological measures because it does indeed project significant gravity waves.)
During a Juno retrograde cycle, our ability to live up to our commitments is on trial, and loyalty, fidelity and balance of power are all tested. It is in retrograde in 2016 from early March thru the June solstice. This Juno retro is a time in which relationships can become rather testy at best, and meltdown at worst. Important relationships are put to the test, to measure if they meet mutual optimal expectations, and to be either worked out or released if they do not.
