Four Retrograde Planets offer new perspectives

By Govinda

The Planets Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn will be in Retrograde motion for most of March, and Pluto will enter retrograde motion on March 29^th.  The retrograde phenomenon occasionally occurs when, from the Earth’s point of view, another planet appears to move backwards. This is the result of the relative positions of planet Earth and the retrograding planet to their respective orbits around the Sun and zodiacal backdrop. Here is a simplistic view of how retrograde motion works: Imagine that you are passing a truck on the highway, and the truck appears to be moving backwards as you pass it.   

Retrogradation is a blessing from the Universe, because it helps us to review, reconsider and explore the deeper, intrinsic, subtle, holistic meanings of that planet’s energies.

A Mercury Retrograde cycle occurs three times each year and lasts for about three weeks. Mercury is Retrograde from March 2^nd thru March 25^th.  Mercury, the planet that rules intellectualization, communication, travel and all instruments of informational processes, communications and travel, is moving backwards through the zodiac. A Mercury Retrograde cycle is a time when the Universe is urging all of us to rethink our lives.  

A MR cycle supports contemplation, introspection, meditation and spirituality. It’s a time when the energies of the logical mind (the Left Brain) seem to shut down, in order to allow the feeling, creative, intuitive mind (the Right Brain) to develop. It supports contemplation, introspection, meditation and spirituality. 

During a Mercury Retrograde cycle, our logical, rational, mental processes and communications seem to break down somewhat.  This also applies to the mechanical devices that support our communications and travel, such as computers, telephones, automobiles and so on.

A Mercury Retrograde cycle is not a good time to start anything new, especially if it is important to you personally. It is a good time to continue things that you’ve already started and to contemplate new possibilities, but it is best to wait until the cycle is complete before you start anything new. This is because you might be missing or misunderstanding important information.

The exception to this rule is an activity that you are an expert in. For example: if you are a professional beautician, it’s okay to cut new hair during these cycles. Because you are an expert, you have integrated your intuitive side of your mind with your logical mind, so your intuition can help guide, or take over, the logical mind when needed.

It is important to be open to your feeling, intuitive perceptions at all times during MR cycles.  Pay attention to a “hunch”, or a strong feeling you may have about something. Your intuition may be telling you to adjust your course.

It’s also a very good idea to develop and express a sense of humor during MR cycles.  Mental malfunctions can be a source of amusement during this time. Inevitably, a checker at the supermarket, or even a bank teller, will miscount money; disc jockeys will trip over their tongues while announcing the next song, etc. Also, some misunderstandings can be quite comical! For example, during a recent Mercury Retro cycle, my wife asked me, “Would you like to meet for lunch?” What I heard was, “Would you like to have meat for lunch?” This is especially funny because we don’t normally eat meat. Observe the communications that happen during this time and enjoy the comedies of mental errors!

Saturn entered Retrograde motion on November 22^nd, 2005 and will continue retrograde motion through April 5^th, 2006. This is a time for reflection on our commitments, the structures of our lives, and the principles by which we make commitments and create structures. When we reexamine our structures, it is good to ask ourselves if these structures are in integrity with the Truth of who we are. Sometimes, what was true for us, back when we made a certain commitment, may no longer be in harmony for us now.

Saturn is the Planet of maturation and personal mastery. As we develop self-awareness and integrate the Truth about our reality, we develop personal integrity and mastery. This process supports our soul’s journey. By reconsidering and fine tuning the principles that guide our lives, we can correct the structures of our lives and get more precisely on course with our soul’s purpose.

Saturn is about physical reality. As we master our Saturn, we become more functional and grounded in the physical world. Now is the time for all spiritual masters to be functional and be PRESENT in this world. This is the greatest present we can give to the world!

Saturn represents our karma. When we master cause and effect, we master our karma. A key for mastery of karma is mastery of the mind, because the mind is the cause of all effects. When we direct the mind to serve the heart, and the heart to serve love, we become the masters of karma.

Saturn has to do with our commitments and disciplines. This is also an appropriate time for making commitments to our spiritual journey.  As our commitment to God grows and we discipline the mind to serve the Divine, we become the instruments of God’s plan on Earth. Our spiritual disciplines integrate spirit into matter and support our spiritual mastery. A spiritual master is one who integrates spiritual wisdom with every aspect of his/her life. This includes the functional expressions of Truth in all aspects of life. The Truth will set us free. Our commitment to Truth leads to the integration of Truth, which liberates our life. This is the gift of Saturn.

Jupiter will enter Retrograde motion on March 3^rd, and continue through July 7^th. Jupiter has to do with our philosophy and spiritual journey. This is a good time to reconsider the meanings and direction of our spiritual paths. The Jupiter Retrograde cycle is an auspicious time to pursue the deeper meanings of any philosophy or spiritual teaching. The hidden, secret, or mystical meanings of spirituality may become more clear.