Retrograde motion is an interesting phenomenon in astrology practice. The term describes an optical effect that occurs when one body is moving faster than another body and from the “view of the faster body, the slower body to appear as if it is “moving backward.” This periodic “change in perspective” means something interesting and useful in astrological practice. This article will explore the direct to retrograde motion of Uranus this August.
Uranus
Uranus is a general point that deals with the revolution(s) of that generation. It moves through a sign roughly 6 to 8 years, making a cycle at 84 years. One of the most significant transits in our lives occurs when Uranus opposes itself between 41 and 44. The Uranus opposition is a natural moment in the human life cycle to experience Kundalini energy rising up through the body’s chakra system.
Since most people in western culture are only recently learning about the chakra energy field, the experience is usually quite shocking and commonly identified and experienced as a mid-life crisis. Known at its best as the point bestowing wisdom, Uranus often provides “future sight” for what will revolutionize an individual or a culture. In its shadow, Uranus can manifest in erratic and unpredictable behavior, snap judgments, and emotional “short-circuiting”.
Uranus in Taurus
In Taurus, Uranus focuses on revolutionizing the land, our security, finances, and agriculture. During this transit of Uranus, one can easily wonder if we will be buying groceries with bitcoin or finding driverless cars in our local auto dealerships. Could we see an even more progressive move to tiny housing, the restructuring of communities, and significant leaps in technology related to farming and food production?
Since Uranus is often associated with “lighting strikes” and sudden changes, and it is now in the premiere earth sign connected to the land, it is possible we will experience more severe weather patterns, especially storms, that could have a dramatic impact, forcing local as well as global migrations. These potential external shifts could ignite new wisdom about the environment or lead to panic, most likely some of both. Choices individuals and governments make can tip the scales one way or the other.
Uranus Retrograde
When Uranus is direct, the areas of life ruled by the sign it is in can move very rapidly through multiple changes. At the global level, we are likely to see swift and dramatic changes in climate and landscapes due to Uranian actions involving sudden and severe weather patterns. When the energy goes retrograde it can often be “the calm before the storm”, which we should use to gather resources and “get prepared” for potential unexpected changes in our security.
How Long Will It Last?
Because Uranus has such a long cycle, the retrograde phase is much longer than most. Uranus will go retrograde on August 12 at 6 degrees and 36 minutes, and not go back direct until January 11, 2020. The full retrograde cycle is only complete when Uranus returns to the degree where it went retrograde, at 6d36m, which will not take place until April 26, 2020. The entire process will take approximately 9 plus months.
I prefer to use the work of Dr. Marc Edmund Jones to identify the meaning of the degree shift and what it will “carry” through the retrograde phase. Since the point will go retrograde at 6d36m, it will be assigned the Sabian symbol Taurus 7 and the phrase associated with this degree is “a woman of Samaria”. Jones writes, “This is a symbol of the unimpeachable divinity which characterizes man’s nature at root, represented here by his instinct for higher things as he yet plumbs all experience to the depths and welcomes life almost indiscriminately into the uttermost inner reaches of his being”. The keyword is AWAKENING (The Sabian Symbols, 186).
There is a very good chance that some personal or global event could force us to review our understanding of our security and the safety of the world at large. In doing so, we can expect a “sudden” shift or spark of enlightenment very common with Uranus. But since it will be at the start of the retrograde phase, we may have to ruminate with the epiphany before rolling it out into the world in the first part of 2020.
At the Personal Level
On your personal level, any points in your chart that sit at or near the 6th degree of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius will certainly feel this shift from direct to retrograde in a profound way. The house Taurus rules in your chart will also be feeling the impact of the Uranus retrograde, which will require to face sudden truths, shocking changes, or new visions in this area of your chart.
As an example, I was born Mars at 11 degrees 45 minutes of Taurus. While Uranus will not quite reach my Mars before going retrograde, I can still expect to feel some sudden insights regarding my physical health (Mars in Taurus), my sexuality (Mars), and my relationships (since Taurus rules my 7th House of Partnerships). I always like to stress that energy is not negative or positive but does behave in certain ways. Uranus is somewhat “uncomfortable” in Taurus since it prefers to act, and act quickly, which is an anathema to the way Taurus prefers to act (slowly and methodically).
In essences what we think we can “count on” may get shaken up during the entirety of the transit. While the point is retrograde, we may have to reassess our “wisdom” (Uranus) about the choices that affect our security and survival. As we do, we may, in fact, discover that our choices were quite sound, and we should keep on our planned path. But if not, we should not delay, but rather make changes as quickly as possible.
