This weekend, July 25th
and 26th, 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 6th, 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 26th 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
