Brace Yourself: Three Retrogrades Are Happening Within Three Days
Mercury might be minding its business for the moment (we won’t have to deal with another Mercury retrograde until June 18), but a few of the other planets are gearing up to meddle in our affairs. From May 11 to May 14, Saturn, Venus, and Jupiter will all begin retrograde periods.
If this sounds familiar, it’s because it happened in April 2019 with Saturn, Pluto, and Jupiter. Keep that in mind if you start to feel overwhelmed by this month’s celestial activity, you’ve weathered a bombardment of retrogrades before, even if you weren’t aware of it at the time. As long as you know what to expect from these planetary periods, there’s no reason why you can’t get through this one.
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Here, we’ll take a closer look at each planet that’s going retrograde and how to deal with its effects.
Saturn Retrograde
May 11 to September 29, 2020
The first retrograde to come our way this month is also arguably the most challenging. Saturn rules self-discipline, responsibility, and long-term success — when it’s direct, it can illuminate where we ought to aim our ambitions and how we should view the future. When it’s retrograde, however, the ringed planet can lead us to second-guess whether we’re working toward the right goals or if our concept of the future is in line with what’s actually happening in the present. Having to slow down and answer these serious questions about your trajectory in life won’t exactly be fun, but Saturn isn’t just the planet of long-term success — it also has a hand to play in long-term consequences. If you don’t heed the warning of its retrograde and take stock of your capital-G Goals (and adjust them, if necessary) right now, you could wind up even farther from what you want later on.
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Venus Retrograde
May 13 to June 25, 2020
This brief-yet-powerful retrograde is famous for throwing our love lives into peril, reawakening old feelings, reopening emotional wounds, and reminding us of our exes’ phone number. During these periods, it’s better to slow (way, way) down than it is to pick up the pace, whether you’re actively dating or working toward the next milestone with your partner. At any rate, given the fact that most of us are socially isolating and hunkered down at home, hopefully, we’ll have the wherewithal to keep any correspondences with our exes strictly virtual.
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Aside from its potential romantic effects, Venus retrogrades also tend to wreak havoc on our looks — or, more specifically, how we feel about our looks. Don’t be surprised if you start to feel restless with your current hair color, skincare routine, or wardrobe, but don’t overhaul your entire aesthetic just because you suddenly feel “meh” about it. Venus retrograde can inspire some truly rash style choices, so think things through before you decide to cut your own bangs. If you want to be extra safe, wait until next month to make any changes.
Jupiter Retrograde
May 14 to September 12, 2020
May’s final retrograde will take it a little easier on us, in the sense that it won’t prod us about our five-year plan or make us look fondly back on past loves. Instead, retrograding Jupiter will compel us to look back on the beliefs that inform our view of the world. It’ll reward big-picture thinking, the kind in which we consider our purpose and our guiding passions. You might develop a more specific, personally-tailored definition of satisfaction during this period. Or, you could realize you’ve actually strayed quite far from the principles you once upheld — if this is the case, you’ll have the choice to correct course or commit to new values that better suit who you are now. During Jupiter retrograde (or any retrograde, for that matter), there’s no rush. With enough time, patience, and self-awareness, you’ll come upon the right way forward for you.
