Saturn Retrograde

Go deeper to free yourself from old hang-ups

In Astrology, it often seems that a planet going retrograde (or appearing to move backward) automatically means that confusion will reign supreme. While this is true with fast-moving planets like Mercury, slower planets in retrograde can actually make things clearer by shifting our focus from the external to the internal to make us more reflecting. And now, with Saturn Retrograde, we may actually feel empowered to move forward!

Strict Saturn is infamous for keeping other planets and zodiac signs in check, and in this way, of reminding us all of our own limitations. As the "karma planet," Saturn tells us what we are and are not allowed to do, and of what society expects from us. When it's direct, Saturn can be a bit of a buzz kill! But in retrograde, Saturn gives us an opportunity to look over our personal set of rules. We have the chance to see what kind of internal and emotional factors motivate us … including fear.

Saturn in reverse means that the external boundaries we live within take a backseat to our rich inner world. We'll trust ourselves enough to question these boundaries, and because retrograde with any planet is a prime time to look back on our personal paths, we can examine failures and let-downs, learn from them, apply these lessons to how we'll conduct ourselves in the future … then move on.

When Saturn goes direct again on June 14, we'll stop feeling quite so free to play with our personal processes. Until then, self-awareness can be very healing and will ultimately make us more productive as a whole!

Saturn goes retrograde on January 26. Consider what you're allowing to hold you back, so you can work on it over the next couple months -- you have Saturn's permission!