The Retrograde Stations of Venus and Uranus in the Summer of 2015

This weekend, July 25^th and 26^th, marks a concerted station retrograde of two planets, Venus and Uranus.  When planets station going direct or retrograde, it marks a period of instability as all that is ruled by those planets has to readjust.  When we have a near-simultaneous set of retrogrades, this intensifies the process.  Here both planets are going retrograde.  They are moving backwards.  They are retracing an old road. They are finishing up old business.

Venus rules love, attraction, money, peace and peace treaties.  On a mundane level, the world’s perspective, we have a new peace treaty between Iran and the major powers.  Expect close examination of that treaty and possible tweaks to it.  Venus’s retrograde lasts until September 6^th, just about the 60 days congress demanded to review the treaty.  On a personal level, Venus retrograde is a time to avoid risks in Venus endeavors: any dramatic change to your appearance, cosmetic surgery (unless it is a re-do), major fashion purchases, major investments especially if they hinge on complex financials which my look different by September. Also to be avoided during Venus retrograde is making emotional commitments to a lover or spouse, as these things change when Venus goes direct.

Venus goes retrograde in the sign Virgo, the sign of practicality and everyman.  In fashion, Venus in Virgo is pragmatic and goes towards clothes that are simple in line, subtle in color and blend in.  But Venus quickly goes back to Leo, the most showy sign of the zodiac: loud colors, especially gold, and lots of bling.  Purchases that follow the Leo trend will not be to your liking by the middle of fall.

Uranus rules freedom, invention, science, electricity, lightening, wind.  During the Uranus retrograde, from July 26^th until Christmas Day, is not the time to market new inventions. The downside of Uranus is its association with extreme political beliefs such as the people who don’t believe in paying taxes or any of the government structures.  Expect to see some action by these crazies during this time.

Uranus goes retrograde in Aries, the sign it has occupied for the last couple of years.  Uranus in Aries is about being first in science.  The recent NASA stories about a duplicate earth, and the fly-by of Pluto, are about the upside of Uranus in Aries.  What will a retrograde Uranus in Aries mean?  Probably that we will need to cooperate more, at least temporarily.  Look for stories about cooperating in scientific endeavors this fall.

The degrees of each station also lend their part to the interpretation. Books and resources I prefer are: Lynda Hill's 360 Degrees of Wisdom: the Sabian Oracle; Blaine Bovee's The Sabian Symbols & Astrological Analysis; Martin Goldsmith's The Zodiac by Degrees: 360 New Symbols; and the Janduz degree symbols available at the French website www.astrotheme.com. These symbols all attribute unique properties to all 360 degrees of the zodiac. Hill and Bovee directly improve upon the original Sabian Symbols channeled by Elsie Wheeler for Marc Edmund Jones.  Goldsmith goes further and reinterprets some of the degrees.  The Janduz degrees are a completely separate system, sometimes even more evocative than the others.

Venus turns retrograde at 1° Virgo (the degrees are rounded up).  Here are highlights from these symbols for this degree: [from Hill] “In a Portrait, the Best of a Man’s Traits and Character are Idealized.” Projection of beauty. Drawings, paintings, photographs. Art, cosmetics, beauty salons. Hairstyles. Elevated thoughts or memories. Visual senses and clues. Recognition. Caricatures of people. Highlighting features. “Identikit” drawings. Visual prototypes. Profiles. Face reading. [From Bovee] “A man’s head” Virgo. “A public market” Pisces. The distinguishing marks of public and private character.  Leaving one’s mark on the market.  Gathering together for trade. Establishing market value.  Traders, painters, photographers.  Taking a snapshot.  [From Goldsmith] “An idealized portrait in a fancy frame.” Being true to oneself and one’s viewpoints. The public self versus the private self. [From Janduz] The owners of the manor have put on their most beautiful attire to attend a party they offer to all the villagers." Sociable, pleasant and orderly character. Life unfolds in happiness and simplicity. An overwhelming desire for luxury, and a superficial lifestyle with overdeveloped concern for appearances and sensual pleasures. Over-eating and over-drinking bring about ill-health.

Uranus turns retrograde at 21° Aries.  Here are the highlights of those symbols: {Hill] “A boxer is entering the ring.” Physical or psychological self-assertion and determination. Fighting for emotional, psychological or physical space. Being seen as a person of strength. Throwing punches. Stepping up to the plate.  [Bovee] A pugilist entering the ring. Aries. A crowd upon the beach. Libra. Contest between individuality and social organization/ the natural inclination to define one’s space; the range of one’s power, the impact of one’s punch.  Pugnacity or agoraphobia; combativeness or fear of public spaces.  Fighting for room, taking a public bashing.  [Goldsmith] Cutting edge thinker outlines his views from the podium, calmly ignoring the jeers from the audience.  [Janduz} "On a raft lost in the middle of the ocean, a man in great distress, but combative, waves a white cloth for help." This degree portends loneliness, extreme poverty, and perhaps, exile or imprisonment abroad. In difficult circumstances, friends are unwilling or unable to help. Trips to foreign countries are strongly advised against. Be aware of the dangers of drowning, in both the literal and the figurative sense, which are associated with this degree.

All these symbols are being acted out right now in the world around us.  The man on a raft image suggests the situation of the refugees crossing the Mediterranean Sea. The travel restrictions suggest more combat abroad, as do the images for 21° Aries as a boxer. The Venus images suggest a long summer of luxury which will be followed by a reality check by the middle of September. 

Best wishes for your successful weathering of these retrogrades!

Lalia Wilson