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For a few months now, we, as a planet, have been enjoying the retrograde-free life, but those smooth-sailing waters are about to change with the veritable retrograde season of 2021 upon us. On April 27, Pluto stations retrograde (through October 6), followed by Saturn retrograde (May 23 to October 11), Mercury retrograde (May 30 to June 23), Jupiter retrograde (June 20 to October 18), and Neptune retrograde (June 25 to December 10). If you’re keeping track, there are times in that window when four planets will be retrograde at once. But this doesn’t mean you should throw in the towel on 2021. In fact, according to Stephanie Gailing, astrologer and author of The Complete Book of Dreams, there’s no need to be nervous about several planets being retrograde simultaneously.
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astrologer, wellness consultant, dream interpreter, and author of The Complete Guide to Astrological Self-Care and The Complete Book of Dreams
“This is normal, and there’s usually an overlap of retrograde cycles of the social planets—Jupiter and Saturn—and the outer planets—like Neptune and Pluto, and for a little bit, Uranus as well,” says Gailing. “While they all begin and end at different moments, much of the summertime often features these planets all marching backward together. It’s not out of the ordinary. Often, Mercury joins the mix, as it does this year. ”
While she stands firm in noting that the retrograde season of 2021 isn’t especially worrisome, Gailing does have a suggestion for making the best of the time: Focus on planetary stations, which are the days around when a planet turns either retrograde or direct. “It’s thought that the archetypes associated with the planet are quite loud in the collective [in that moment]” Gailing says. “So, for example, on the days around Saturn turning retrograde or direct, we should really pay attention to the strength of foundations, the importance of being diligent, and coloring within the lines,” since Saturn is the planet of maturity, responsibility, and discipline.
With that in mind, here are three date-oriented tips Gailing suggests embracing for weathering the summer retrograde season of 2021 with ease.
3 timeframes to note in order to get through the summer retrograde season of 2021 with ease, according to an astrologer.
1. Mercury retrograde occurs May 30 to June 23
The inner planet retrogrades, such as Venus, Mars, and Mercury retrogrades, are important times for slowed movement and practicing retrospective mindfulness. “We are so used to being in ‘go, go, go mode’ that the retrograde cycle of these personal planets can be challenging if we don’t change the way we approach things in the world,” Gailing. “To get the most out of these periods—and to sidestep possible stress—it’s important to do as the planets do, and travel back over territory you already traversed. With Mercury retrograde, you go back over communication and conversations, using the opportunity to see things from a different angle…you’re better off not pushing forward with something new. That said, if you do need to launch something, consider that you’re still in beta-test mode. Gather insights and feedback you can use to bolster your creation once the planets go direct.”
2. Jupiter turns retrograde June 20, Mercury turns direct June 22 and Neptune turns retro June 25
Here we have a lot of planets making big moves at once, so we want to pay intention to the clash. “This may be a period in which there’s a wave of communication or information releasing, and yet it may cause us confusion,” says Gailing. “That said, it could be a great time for mysticism and art.”
3. Pluto turns direct October 6 and Saturn turns direct October 10
“This may be a powerful time in which we experience limits and a need to surrender that which has reached its expiration date and which may remind us of some of the deconstruction and reconstruction we moved through in 2020,” Gailing says.
Ultimately, retrograde cycles aren’t something to be feared, but rather embraced as helpful for facilitating growth from the “power of pause,” as Gailing puts it. When we take the time to be thoughtful, we can access insights that might have otherwise been missed. That’s what will ultimately help us move forward.
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