astrology retrograde
Let’s Go Girls, Vesta Is Calling Us!
Vesta, or Hestia as she is known in Greek mythology, is an asteroid located between Mars and Jupiter that is currently retrograde until October 5th, 2022. This means it is currently in close proximity to Earth and actually visible to the naked eye until Sept 11th, 2022. Women in particular should be watching her path, and engage with her empowering, divine feminine energy at this time.
Some experts believe that according to a formula that predicts the spacing between planets in any given solar system, known as the Titius-Bode law, Vesta may be located in an area that once contained a planet that no longer exists.
German astronomer H.W. Olbers first spotted the asteroid on March 29th, 1807, and his colleague Carl Friedrich Gauss named it Vesta. It takes 3.63 years for Vesta to travel around the sun, nearly twice as long as the orbit of planet Mars.
Vesta is the virgin goddess of the hearth, home, and family in Roman mythology. She is ‘the fire that warms, but never burns.’ In ancient Roman times, six vestal virgins had the sacred duty as priestesses at her temple to tend the vestal flame.
This was considered a very important job, as this sacred fire was deemed to be vital to the security and stability of Rome and therefore could never be allowed to go out. It took extreme focus and care to keep the flame alive.
The vestal priestesses did not have to comply with of the usual social and cultural obligations imposed on women in those patriarchal times. They were not required to marry and have children, but instead took a 30-year vow of chastity in order to fully devote themselves to service.
Chiron Retrograde Is An Opportunity For Deep Healing
A lesser-known celestial body to watch if one is metaphysically inclined is the planet-like asteroid or comet known as Chiron, which orbits between the planets Saturn and Uranus. It is named after the wise centaur in Greek mythology who could heal others, but not himself, and is associated with the archetype of the ‘wounded healer.’
Chiron went retrograde recently on July 19th and its reverse trajectory will last until December 23rd, 2022. This astrological event will challenge us, as Chiron symbolizes the unhealed pain and unresolved past traumas we still carry within. It represents our deepest, core wound and our efforts to heal that wound. The good news is, despite a retrograde cycle bringing challenge, it also bring opportunity for expansion and growth.
Chiron is currently in the fiery, action-oriented sign of Aries where it will remain until the year 2026. This is a difficult placement, because Chiron is all about deep introspection, delicate shadow work and patiently working towards the healing of old wounds, while Aries has little patience in such matters and just wants to ‘get on with it.’
You may feel tempted to rush into the core of your pain and trauma due to this retrograde, but be sensible instead and take a step back. This retrograde period does offer a powerful opportunity for working on inner healing and forgiveness, but take a measured approach and do not foolishly rush in where angels may fear to tread. Give yourself permission to honor slow, steady processing, healing and growth. Healing is like a seed we plant; it takes time for an acorn to grow into an oak tree.
If you find your temper and emotions flaring, remember to breathe, use mantras, and positively visualize your outcome. New growth takes place after a wildfire (Aries) and this is an excellent time to start anew, while overcoming old traumas.
The Wise Approach To Mercury Retrograde
According to astrology, our lives can be in upheaval when Mercury goes Retrograde. Its effects can be felt by anyone, regardless of your zodiac sign.
However, some signs may be more sensitive to its influence than others. This is because Mercury is the ruler of Gemini and Virgo, and people with strong placements of these signs in their birth charts may be more likely to experience disruptions in communication, technology, and transportation during a Mercury retrograde.
Although this concept is widely touted in the spiritual and metaphysical communities, I find that many people affected by it do not understand its true meaning and are not well informed on how best to deal with it.
Mercury retrograde is indeed a challenging cosmic influence. It tends to feel like we have just finished one round of it, and the next one is already looming on the horizon.
A common side effect of Mercury Retrograde for many people is unexplained nervous energy or restlessness. You feel anxious and stressed about everything, and you can’t figure out why? Sometimes you feel anxious about things that have never bothered you in the past.
You may also have a hard time concentrating on things. Retrograde energy can throw even the most calm and centered person off balance.
Astrology Forecast July 25 – 31, 2022
If you have a busy schedule at work this week, brace yourself for a challenging few days ahead. The Moon wades through Cancer today until Wednesday, leaving us with a preference for rest and relaxation at home, instead of drive and ambition, which is not ideal energy for the first three days of a demanding work week.
However, if you are fortunate to be spending time at home this week, use this restorative lunar energy to revitalize your soul and recharge your body and mind.
Tomorrow morning the Cancer Moon square Jupiter in Aries will further increase our sense of laziness and wanting to chill out. Until Thursday, we may therefore have to dig deep to persevere, stay on track, and get stuff done.
By tomorrow afternoon, the situation may degenerate even further when Mercury in Leo squares Mars in Taurus. This energy may cause our sense of laziness and procrastination to turn into hypersensitivity to criticism, sarcasm, intolerance, and even aggressive behaviour. If you find yourself spiralling, take some time out and gather your emotions…before you do or say something you might later regret.
Come Thursday, the Leo New Moon will set the stage for active change and restore our vision for the future. Jupiter will also turn retrograde on this day, traveling backward until the end of November. Jupiter Retrograde is an opportunity to step back and consider what we want to manifest in our lives, as well as pointing out where we may need to change direction, or how to focus on achieving what we want. During this phase, there will be a lot of shifts and changes in our perception, as well as our thinking. It can help us separate our ‘wants’ and ‘needs’ from our ‘desires.’
We will close out the week under a Taurus Moon, which encourages physical activity and a reality check as we evaluate our surroundings and clear out clutter to make way for a new cycle of attainment. Translation: out with the old, in with the new.
But, It’s Mercury Retrograde…
Mercury went direct, finally, on June 3rd and not a moment too soon! If I can help it, I try to avoid signing new leases, having a carpenter come over to begin a new project, having a contractor pave our streets, or a daughter begin rehearsals on a very important one woman show she’s performing in New York City this summer.
You’d think having a resident astrologer on board would prevent all calamities from occurring. Not! That’s because I’m the town crier three to four times per year when Mercury retrograde takes to its sickbed. You can see me yelling through the streets warning all to thoroughly research, plan, to look before leaping, and expect delays, setbacks, and re-dos of whatever it is you’ve haphazardly done before.
Allow me to introduce myself: I’m the astrologer who cries wolf to a legion of fans who roll eyes at me. “No not this retrograde thing again! We’ve heard that before. Again, and again.
And you’ll hear it again because Mercury retrograde is one of those red flags that wave in your face and cause you to trip on a crack that needs fixing. It’s a backwards trickster this Mercury retrograde, and you’d best pay heed.
During the recent retrograde, I did my best to sound the alarm, but I was unilaterally ignored to the detriment of all who claimed they never heard my siren.
First case in point: My husband had my brother-in-law pop by for a sleepover yesterday with ulterior motives to utilize his unparalleled carpentry skills to beautify our wall. “All you gotta do is slap on a simple rock board before we add the stone,” proclaimed hubby. “Nothing to it for a master carpenter like you. Come on over for dinner, movies, and don’t forget your saw and tool kit!”
But it’s Mercury retrograde,” I whispered to my husband.
The Hidden Blessings Of Retrograde Reflections
During the most recent Mercury retrograde, there was a day when my phone simply stopped working. I signed onto Psychic Access to do readings, but my landline failed to connect. Later that week, something similar happened. My landline was now working again, but when I tried to sign on to Psychic Access to start my shift, I was unable to connect. Technical issues twice in one week. I felt like I was going to lose it!
Planetary retrogrades are prime times to experience setbacks and frustrations. This has been especially true over the past two years due to the pandemic. Vibrational energy across the planet has been very low in recent times.
It is vital to stay calm, centered and grounded during retrogrades, and to not be too hard on oneself. Retrogrades are times for reflection, validation, and analysis of how we may improve ourselves. It’s a time of seeing where our personal energy frequency may need some adjustment. Opportunities for healing, growth and self-care abound if we take the initiative!
Carving out a little ‘sanity time’ each day is paramount. Time to oneself provides clarity and purpose to reflect upon personal growth and life’s lessons. It also gives us the opportunity to make lemonade out of lemons; something sweet out of life’s sour and bitter. In time, the sweet joy of our ‘spiritual lemonade’ can be served to the world by being of service, while inspiring our family and friends with our courage and perseverance.
To gather my thoughts after the two missed work shifts on Psychic Access, I decided to take time out for a walk. I love walking, but due to persistent back pain that has been plaguing me for years, it’s an activity that I fail to do on a regular basis.
But the retrograde setbacks with my phone line led me to start walking again. I had to start slowly, and it took some time for me to regain the necessary physical strength, but now I thoroughly enjoy my daily walks in the great outdoors. What a lift for the spirits! Thank you retrograde.
Astrology Forecast May 30 – June 5, 2022
With a Gemini New Moon in the heavens today, we can make a wish and start formulating a plan for the future. The Gemini Moon will likely have us doing more socializing than working today and tomorrow, as our quest for new and shared information prevails.
The Gemini Moon square Neptune in Pisces tomorrow afternoon will set the scene for a fickle, emotional mid-week by causing us to be passive, unrealistic, and indulging in wishful thinking.
This will be followed by a moody, even gloomy energy that will hang over us on Wednesday and Thursday, as the Moon drifts through emotional Cancer, and we’ll have to watch out for sensitivity or depression, which meditation and spiritual practices can help alleviate. Keep things simple, attend household obligations and avoid making any dyed-in-the-wool decisions.
The mood will rapidly begin to improve early on Friday morning with the Cancer Moon sextile Mercury in Taurus with an increased sense of clarity and more sound judgment. Friday afternoon the Moon will move firmly into Leo and provide us with a more confident outlook for the weekend, reminding us to practice self-love and to be generous with others in all our interactions.
Mercury will thankfully turn direct on Friday, but do allow a week or two after for the retrograde glitches to clear entirely.
Saturday, Saturn will turn retrograde and remain that way until late October. When Saturn is retrograde, it gives us a few months to move without the regular restrictions and disciplines this planet is famous for, allowing us to explore new schedules and ways of being that might serve us better in the future.