Navigating the 2024 Outer Planets Retrograde Season

We are now entering an interesting time! Saturn and Neptune are going Retrograde, followed by Uranus entering a Retrograde Phase. Pluto has been in Retrograde since early May, marking a crucial period in the astrological calendar.

Outer Planets in Retrograde

Saturn, the planet of karma, responsibility, and fate, which spends about 2 ½ years in each sign, is entering its Retrograde phase on June 29 in the 19th degree of Pisces and will remain in Retrograde until November 15. Saturn going Retrograde in Pisces may signal a time when one is encouraged to slow down and be empathetic toward others. It is a time for caution.
As Neptune, the planet of dreams, illusions, and spirituality, begins its retrograde journey in the 29th degree of Pisces on July 2, we are all invited to embark on a profound inner voyage. This celestial event, lasting until December 7, holds a unique significance as it occurs in the watery depths of Pisces, where Neptune’s energies are amplified, and its influence on our subconscious is heightened.

As September dawns, Uranus, which spends about 7 years in each sign and is the planet that loves to break down structures, brings “out of the blue” experiences and encourages us to think out of the box, will be entering a Retrograde phase in the 27th degree of the sign of Taurus going direct on January 30 2025 in the 23rd degree of Taurus. This will affect those who have late Taurus, Scorpio, Aquarius, or Leo the most.

Therefore, from September to mid-October 2024, all outer planets will be retrograde, creating a very different energy than we have experienced in the first half of 2024. As Pluto concludes its retrograde phase on October 11, it will make a monumental shift from Capricorn to Aquarius, marking a new era. This transition is significant, as Pluto is associated with transformation, power, and regeneration. Its move into Aquarius, a sign linked to innovation and social change, could herald a profound societal evolution.

Simultaneously, as Pluto prepares for its direct journey in Aquarius, Jupiter, the planet of expansion and abundance, will begin its retrograde motion in the 20th degree of Gemini. This Retrograde, which lasts until February 2025, might encourage us to reevaluate our beliefs, knowledge, and communication styles. This is a time for introspection and consolidation before Jupiter resumes its direct motion, allowing for new growth and opportunities in the realm of Gemini, which influences communication and short journeys and emphasizes communication.

Effects of Retrograde Planets

So, what might this look like for you? While the effects may be planetary in some ways, as we are dealing with planets that are more karmic and not always personal in nature, the Retrograde phase of Saturn is mainly going to affect people who have personal planets in Mutable signs (especially between 16th degrees and 22nd degrees of Mutable signs). The Mutable signs are Pisces, Gemini, Virgo, and Sagittarius.
People with the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, and Mars in those degrees will likely feel thwarted, frustrated, challenged, or blocked. How one is challenged will depend on the houses involved in the Saturn aspect, both by placement and, more so, by Rulership.

Suppose you have a planet or planets in the 26th to 29th degree of the Mutable signs. In that case, Neptune may be messaging you to slow down, go within, realign yourself with your spiritual purpose, be on alert, and be aware of scammers in your life. This is not a time to be trusting, as the waters are murky.
Suppose you have Neptune, Venus, or any personal planet in the 26th degree of Water or Earth signs. In that case, Neptune may inspire you to uncover a talent, perhaps a musical gift, deepening your intuition or religious or spiritual inclinations.

Uranus retrograding in late Taurus continues to beat the drum for change in finances and values. How this relates to you personally is illuminated by where Taurus sits in your chart. Uranus in Taurus can be uprooting; sometimes, letting go is the way to change. Uranus in Taurus Retrograde can help us redefine what is beautiful and meaningful in our lives, and it can make us let go of things that no longer have value.

Jupiter’s Retrograde in Gemini, the sign of its fall, suggests a good time to be more conscious of our thoughts and speech. Amidst the transformative energies of the other outer planet retrogrades, Jupiter’s backspin amplifies the call for introspection and reevaluation. It invites us to delve deep into our minds, scrutinize our beliefs, and question the narratives that shape our understanding of the world. In this period of intellectual rewiring, we can shed outdated dogmas and embrace new perspectives that align with our evolving values. Jupiter’s Retrograde in Gemini catalyzes personal and collective growth, paving the way for a paradigm shift in consciousness that could redefine our relationship with knowledge, communication, and truth. 

With so many planets Retrograde in late Summer and early Fall, the world can augur realignments, things that have been hidden, and things that will come to light next year.

Time will tell!