As we approach the second full Moon in July, social media is also awash with message of doom because Venus and Uranus are in retrograde motion, I feel the urge to put some alternate views ‘out there’!
‘Blue Moon’ is a term applied to a second Full Moon with a calendar month or more rarely, within a zodiac sign. Technically it is the term usually applied to the third Full Moon in a season. Whatever the definition, considering we have 13 Full Moons in a solar year, squishing them into patterns of twelve, three or four will always leave one spare. So ‘blue moon’ are likely at least once a year – in other words it is actually no ‘big deal’.
The term ‘retrograde’ when used for planets in astrology refers to the optical illusion created by the view of planets from the Earth.
This is how it happens:
The Sun is the yellow circle.
The blue circles show the positions of the Earth as it rotates about the Sun.
The red circles show the positions of a planet as it too, rotates around the Sun, but at a different speed from the Earth. (Venus and Mercury placements would be between the Earth and the Sun, but the basic pattern is the same)
We consider other planets in our Solar System from the Earth’s point of view.
Views 1, 2 & 3 – normal view
View 4 – when the speed of the Earth compared to the planet has taken it to a position when the planet appears to have reversed it course, compared to View 3.
View 5 – as View 4
View 6 – the planet’s position appears to be moving forward again when viewed from the Earth.
The Views 3, 4 and 5 are labelled as ‘retrograde’.
However the planet itself has simply stayed in its normal orbit.
So what is the fuss about?
1. It is important to remember that astrologically any planet does not cause us problems. It is no point pointing the blame for incidents in our lives on energies outside of ourselves. In sensitive and aware people the movement of the planets can accurately reflect energy changes within the personality and sub-personalities. When these are not managed, through naiveté, stubbornness or lack of awareness, outer events will reflect them back to us.
2. Seeing the diagram of retrograde above, the pattern created by the apparent path of the planet creates a loop that takes its path closer to the Earth. Many astrologers see this as an idea that retrograde planets push energies inward, creating a withdrawal of the energy from conscious levels of awareness. This is maybe why people get anxious about retrograde motion….. there is less conscious control. However, there is still personal choice of how to deal with those energies within the self.
3. Retrograde has its uses. When a person has retrograde planets in the natal astrology chart it often indicates energies that are internalised and processed fully before they are expressed in the world. This could create introvert traits or skills that take time to develop.
4. When faster moving planets (Mercury, Venus and Mars) go retrograde they have a tendency to be reflected in the collective. It is well known that Mercury and its retrograde cycle affect the stock markets, which are volatile at the best of times.
5. The slower moving planets (Jupiter, Saturn) spend regular periods in the year in retrograde motion.
6. The outer planets (Neptune, Uranus and Pluto – Pluto to me is still very much a planet!) spend long periods of time in retrograde.
So, in conclusion, like ‘blue moons’, retrograde motion in planets is not to be feared or dreaded. It is an optical illusion that we can buy into or not. If we take note of retrogrades they can reflect back to us periods of time when certain energies internalise, giving us time to ponder, reassess and integrate.
dragonsmeet 