2007-2009 Retrogrades

Retrograde = re-do, re-think, re-plan

Planets are like actors in the sky, in your birth chart and in transits (as they travel through our charts) when a planet goes Retrograde it is an opportunity to reassess situations and allow yourself a bit of time to regroup. Not a horrible time for the above (redoing) and Not a GOOD time for new processes of life, which the planet relates to.

• THE MOON and the SUN never go retrograde
• The Moon represents emotions, feelings and intuition
• The Sun is the light and where we are going
• Mercury is ideas and communication
• Venus is what we like and love
• Mars is action, passion and anger
• Jupiter is trust, faith and abundance
• Saturn is the RULES, and how you organize life
• Uranus is the bringer of changes
• Neptune is intuition or Illusion, and visions
• Pluto is transformation
• Chiron the wounded healer

The planets in our solar system are engaged in a constant movement. From an astrological viewpoint, there are three important steps to this energy and its movement and they are:

• Retrograde. A planet is described as retrograde when it appears to be moving backwards through the sky from the perspective of the earth. Planets are never actually retrograde, (OR GOING BACKWARDS) they just seem that way – it is an optical illusion. BUT this energy certainly seems to bring our lives backwards and brings things from the past into the present and creates some real roadblocks: The sign and house the retrograde happens within is going to show you where there is some reconstruction going on in your life. Retrograde means in ENGLISH redo and is not the time for new plans, contracts, agreements, etc.
• Stationary. AKA Srx The planet's energy is most powerful, and likely to get the MOST ATTENTION from us, when it becomes stationary (when it appears to be motionless in the sky). These stationary times occur at the beginning of the cycle (when the planet first STOPS as it prepares to move backwards) OR go retrograde, and at the end of the retrograde cycle when the planet HALTS in the sky and then begins its normal forward motion.
• Direct. AKA SD When the planet begins it's forward movement once again, it is said to be direct. At this point, our lives seem to become more normal and we are left to clean up the mess we may have created while doing things during Rx. cycles. Mercury retrogrades are probably the most well known of retrogrades. Because Mercury's orbit is not large (it makes one circle of the earth during a calendar year) it normally makes three retrograde periods in a year. So, issues surrounding things that mercury rules, communications, transportation, commerce, etc., are affected. Mercury also rules people who work in these areas as it does traffic, the news, movies, and media.

When Mercury is retrograde, everyone's thinking is more introspective and we tend to think about issues and concerns which relate to communications, deals and looking at the SIGN or the costume mercury is wearing will tell us much of what will be going on during this time:

It should be noted that Mercury retrogrades, like any planetary energy affects people differently, depending on where it hits their personal charts. Mercury retrograde is not a horrible time, nor something to dread, and it is generally a time when we are encouraged to listen inwardly and our intuition and sense of self really grows.

Mercury retrograde dates 2007-2009
Seattle WA time Pacific Time zone

Retrograde Time Astrological Degree Date Direct Degree Direct Feb 13, 2007 8:38pm 10 Pisces March 07 25 Aquarius June 15, 2007 4:40pm 12 Cancer July 09 3 Cancer           January 28, 2008 3:31pm 24 Aquarius Feb 18 8 Aquarius May 26, 2008 10:42am 22 Gemini June 19 13 Gemini Sept 24, 2008 2:11am 23 Libra October 15 8 Libra           January 11, 2009 11:39am 8 Aquarius Feb 01 21 Capricorn May 06, 2009 11:55pm 2 Gemini May 30 23 Taurus

• VENUS Retrograde in 2007. July 27, 2007 Venus moves retrograde at 10:27am at 3 Degrees of Virgo and will move direct September 9th 9;13am at 17 Degrees of Leo. During this retrograde we will look at our processes of what we want in our lives. Venus is our love and attraction mechanism and this Virgo (analyzing) energy and Leo Passionate energy will breaks up stuck relationships, and outmoded ideals of what we want. When Venus moves direct in Leo we will all be into our passions and hopefully have worked out many of the problems within our existing relationships. Venus Retrograde is NOT the time for a wedding or a divorce unless absolutely necessary you are best advised to use this time to reacess, and reconnect with what it is that you really want.
• Venus Retrograde in 2008. (NONE)
• Venus Retrograde in 2009. March 06, 2009 at 12:10pm Venus moves retrograde at 15 degrees of Aries moving direct April 17th, 2009 at 29 Degrees of Pisces. This Venus Retrograde will for sure move us from passion and impulsive bravery into the wonderful land of imagination and what could be.
• MARS RETROGRADE. November 15, 2007 at 12 Degrees of Cancer moving direct on January 30, 2008 at 24 Degrees of Gemini. Mars is our ACTION and movement system and Mars retrograde is a time to rethink the way we go after things and our actions. Cancer would like to play safe and keep comfortable so this time will be about safety, security and when Mars Backs into Gemini on December 31, 2007 we get to enter 2008 with a wide open attitude and a great many options
• MARS RETROGRADE. December 20, 2009 at 1:43pm at 23 Pisces direct March 10, 2010 at 0 degrees Of Leo will be an interesting look at visions (Pisces) and what COULD be done with attitude and shifts in the way we are doing things. As Mars Moves into LEO and moves direct we will be pushed into heart felt actions as well as wanting to be open to more fun and joy in our lives.
• Jupiter moves retrograde April 05, 2007 at 20 Degrees of Sagittarius and direct August 6, 2007 at 10 Sagittarius is a part of a huge planetary aspect of VESTA, Pluto and Jupiter in the sign of truth and opening to what is the most we can be. Jupiter retrograde time is often used for rethinking travel, legal matters, and often our philosophical and religious beliefs.
• Jupiter Moves Retrograde July 01, 2009 at 27 Aquarius and direct October 12, 2009 at 17 Aquarius. This is a powerful time of the mind, and a time when we will be reconfiguring what the mind can do. MIND POWER for ourselves time is here.
• Saturn moves retrograde December 19, 2007 at 9 degrees of Virgo begins a new theme on this planet. This is the time to see what is wrong in order to heal it. Virgo analyses and then begins to show us what needs healing and when Saturn moves direct on May 02, 2008 at 2 degrees of Virgo we will have reached new understanding of our planetary needs as well as our own part in the world. Saturn retrograde is a time to maintain the status quo in career and not break new ground for structures in your life if at all possible. Hang on and make as few waves as possible during this time, as the foundations of life can seem a bit insecure
• Saturn moves Retrograde December 31, 2008 at 22 Degrees of Virgo and direct on May 16, 2009 at 15 Virgo. The theme again is world ecology, healing and living in more direct communion with the planet and each other upon this planet.
• Uranus moves retrograde June 23, 2007 at 19 Pisces and Direct November 24, at 14 Pisces. This energy of change is asking us to dissolve boundaries and move far beyond where we would have believed possible..
• Uranus moves retrograde June 26, 2008 at 23 Pisces and direct November 27th at 19 Pisces. Uranus retrograde in Pisces again assists us in working on the process to destroy boundaries in the mind and to learn and really believe in that which cannot be seen or touched.
• Uranus moves retrograde July 01, 2009 at 27 Pisces and direct December 01, 2009 at 23 Pisces. This last trip down the lane of change with Uranus in Pisces truly should have dissolved by now many preconceived perceptions of differences on this planet and connected you much more strongly into inner knowing, listening for inner guidance, strong dream energy and so much more. URANUS will move into the sign of ARIES ON May 27, 2010 and the energy shifts from Water, intuition into FIRE and action for us all upon this planet. IF by now we have not made the needed changes this surely will be a HUGE push forward for us all.
• Neptune Retrograde May 24, 2007 at 22 Aquarius and direct October 31, 2007 at 19 Aquarius. Neptune retrograde is time to review your spiritual life, time to reconnect with guides, angels and higher power. Time to test your beliefs unfettered by limiting labels.
• Neptune Retrograde May 26, 2008 at 24 Aquarius and direct November 01, 2008 at 21 Aquarius
• Neptune Retrograde May 28, 2009 at 21 Aquarius and direct November 04, 2009 at 24 Aquarius: Neptune in Aquarius has been a time on this planet of us reaching beyond the NORMAL mind mode into the infinite possibilities of mind magic, mind power and the creative energy of the POWER OF intentions. This has been a dynamic time of all of us on this planet learning how truly powerful our thoughts are: Neptune went into Aquarius on January 28, 1998 and will move into the sign of Pisces which is its natural ruler and the sign this planet of illusion and dreams is happiest in on February 03, 2012.
• Pluto Retrograde is a time to reconfigure our lives. Since Pluto spends much of its time retrograde these times are often just times when we find ourselves processing inwardly more than normal. Pluto went into the FREEDOM loving sign of Sagittarius on January 17, 1995 and will move into Capricorn on January 25, 2008 then back into Sagittarius and finally enter Capricorn and really move forward in this sign on 11/26/2008
• Pluto Retrograde March 31, 2007 at 29 degrees of Sagittarius direct September 07, 2007 at 26 degrees of Sagittarius
• Pluto Retrograde April 02, 2008 at 1 Degree of Capricorn, backs into Sagittarius June 13, 2008 and moves direct on September 08, 2008 at 28 Degrees of Sagittarius.
• Pluto Retrograde April 04, 2009 at 3 Capricorn direct September 11, 2009 at 0 Capricorn.
• Pluto Retrograde April 06, 2010 at 5 degrees of Capricorn and moves direct on September 13, 2010 at 3 degrees of Capricorn
• Chiron the wounded healer is really working out for us all on this planet. First this planet which represents how we do our healing finally moves into Aquarius opening doorways for alternative medicines finally being accepted on February 21, 2005 then moves retrograde at 3 Aquarius on May 8, 2005 and backs up again into Capricorn on the 31st of July, indicating that we are not quite ready to leave the status quo on health care are we? On October 04, 2005 Chiron moves direct at 27 degrees of Capricorn and again works to shift our options for living healthier.
• On December 05, 2005 Chiron moves again into Aquarius and we seem more ready to finally change some things around healing on this planet. On May 15, 2006 Chiron moves retrograde in order for us to rethink some shifts in society’s way of dealing with health issues at 9 Aquarius and direct on October 12, 20906 at 4 Aquarius and we seem to finally be on our way.
• Chiron retrograde May 20, 2007 at 16 Aquarius direct October 19, 2007 at 11 Degrees of Aquarius
• Chiron Retrograde May 25, 2008 at 21 Aquarius and direct October 25, 2008

Retrograde times are not to be feared, on the contrary, they are times of HUGE shifts of energy and the ability to go back and almost recreate our past, and for SURE RECREATE our future.

Make an appointment with an astrologer and get your update on where major shifts are happening in 2005 and 2006. An astrology CALENDAR class will assist you, and, if you have more questions, there is nothing like a one on one appointment to get clarity and visions on what you are creating in this number 7 year of spiritual connections in 2005 and an 8 year of reward, respect and recognition in 2006.

Namaste,
Carol Barbeau
carolastro@carolbarbeau.com