A San Francisco horoscope for Mercury’s retrograde
You’ve probably heard by now that Mercury has begun its final throwback of the year and is here to play around with your Slack messages, your Wi-Fi connection, and your relationships one last time. What you may not know is that five other planets, including Pluto, are also retrograde.
So what does it mean when a planet is retrograde? Physically, it appears to us as if the planet is moving backwards on its orbit around the sun. Of course, it hasn’t really changed direction or slowed down, but it looks like this from our point of view and from the point of view of the ancients who used the planets to navigate or to keep track of time. So it’s no wonder that retrograders have earned a reputation for being disorienting or fearful.
To put it in modern terms, retrograding is not unlike when you miss the exit on Highway 101 during rush hour and have to back away from the traffic, forcing you to see the terrain you are traveling on from a new, annoying perspective. You still go where you need to go even if it doesn’t feel like it. Spiritually, according to Bay Area astrologer Susannah Freedman, stepping back is a great time to review the areas of your life that are ruled by the planet that is currently in setback.
Given that more than half of the planets in our solar system are retrograde, you are probably reviewing a whole lot, such as what you value and how you live. Let’s summarize (a very Mercury retrograde-y verb) what the retrograde planets rule:
Jupiter is the happy planet of truth, values and the search for meaning. It is currently declining in Aquarius, the “sign of the people,” along with Saturn, who rules work, public personality, and reputation.
According to Freedman, these two planets (Jupiter and Saturn), which are retrograde in this sign, could make the San Franciscans “feel like nothing substantial has come of all the protests and promises of the Reformation”. For the Bay Area in particular, she says that action is included in the part of the map that means home. “We have to get our community house in order before we can expect changes anywhere else.”
Meanwhile, Uranus, the planet of rebellion, and Pluto, the planet of transformation, are still trudging through the busy earth signs Taurus and Capricorn, respectively. These signs deal with the structures of daily life, so you may be forced to rethink your way of life or certain tasks. This could mean reevaluating the seemingly mundane routines that make up the very fabric of your existence. Or it could be big, like joining the big resignation of 2021.
Neptune, the planet of dreams and intuition, generally loves to float in the Pisces stream of consciousness, but this regression threatens to drag us into a vortex of delusion if we do not use Libra time to balance our thoughts. Anything you think to question, and treat thoughts and emotions as passing currents, can help you work with the pull.
Finally, fast-moving, mischievous Mercury comes on the scene, ready to stir the kettle. It rules communication, and as it appears in Libra, which rules partnerships, justice and balance, the planet comes for all types of relationships. Conflict can be an efficient way of reorganizing what is unfair or just not working, but it is rarely pleasant.
Astrologers seem to agree: Reorgs and other re-words are all the rage this season. And Bri Luna of The Hoodwitch perhaps put it best when she wrote: “[the retrogrades] help us to define who and what we want to get involved with. ”
On your way to redefining, here’s how you can use this time to reflect and reclaim rather than repress and step back, with prompts based on each sign.
Aries
Like a line chef in a understaffed restaurant, you’ve got a lot of burners going. That incredibly picky order from your boss, that moment of tension that you wiped away, that DTR chat set on slow cooking, they can all hit your assembly line. Sure, turning up the heat is a quick way to find a solution, but burnt dinners generally don’t get positive reviews. Before firing a text, move away from the lighter fluid and set the dials to simmer. Repeat the steps in the recipe that will cause your inner soups to boil over. Where does your wild independence keep you alone in your struggles, ignoring the people eager to help out in the kitchen of your life?
bull
Your chores list is long, you are nowhere near your inbox, and your LinkedIn notifications are likely to be filled with requests and invitations. It’s time to ask yourself Taurus: how much time do you spend tending the grass instead of just feeling it under your feet? This regression draws your attention to the quality of your daily routines and your relationship with rest. Time is a measurable thing, as is productivity, but the minutes, hours, or days you spend leisure or in real connection are far more priceless, even if harder to quantify.
Twins
Gemini know better than most that two seemingly opposing ideas can be true. You are a human both / and. And Jupiter’s journey through the philosophical Aquarius probably helped you improve your ability to see the long arc of all your connections. So, when ghosts of past relationships slide into your DMs so regressively, you may experience that familiar pull of affection, but with trepidation. Slow down the scrolling long enough to take a body scan. Your naturally curious mind and the indecisive energy of Libra may keep you on a loop of circular rationalizations, but what is your gut telling you?
cancer
Intentionally or not, we all build altars to our ancestors. In this retrograde season, your life can be like a ghost tour with your ancestors visiting. They could come to you in the form of a beloved artifact retrieved from the depths of a closet, a habit you notice re-emergence, or an uncomfortable memory lurking in the dark corners of your inner haunted house. These spirits are kind even if they pull the hair up on the back of your neck. Remember, you are already the accomplished hose. Invite them, pour them a drink. Let them pamper you. Then let them release you.
Lion
This step backwards prompts you to think about when you feel compelled to fine-tune your feelings and when the urge to brandish a whip arises. Jupiter has likely been dosing your romantic partnerships with heart-expanding, larger-than-life happiness pills lately, so you have plenty to look forward to too. But even the cutest love affairs can have a kink. Leos usually have an accessory flair, but if your truth is concerned, skip the adornments for the Folsom Street Fair.
Virgo
Plotting, plotting and (Microsoft) Excelling are natural for analytical, hardworking virgins. And that goes for micromanagement too – if you have to unpack your spreadsheets, make sure you also sum up the minutes or hours you spend in your spare time. And remember, while productivity is countable, your talents don’t always fit into clean records. When balancing budgets, spreadsheets, and time, leave some room for qualitative insights.
scale
Modern witchcraft isn’t just about sage sticks and Stevie Nicks-style accessories. And relationships are not all fun and balanced, even though you are an expert at both. Telling your truth is another word for spell, so use this step backwards to reflect out loud about yourself, your trusted circle, or just your voice memo app. Turn plans into incantations and know that action is an equal part of the craft, especially when it comes to creating and reinventing justice.
Scorpio
You may have had eerie déjà vu hits in the past few months as the ghosts of pre-pandemic life greet you in the here and now. It was probably subtle or fleeting – a brush of a shoulder, a bend in a neon light, a flicker of candlelight. Did these micro-moments feel like a joyful tingling of recognition? Or did they conjure up some other physical memory, such as a twisting stomach or a tickling in the throat? If you’ve got an eerie feeling like you’ve been here before, take advantage of that retrograde motion to retreat and realign your inner compass. Whether it’s stored in the antenna of your hair or your left toe, it always points north.
Sagittarius
Forward movement is very important for the galivating, philosophizing zodiac Sagittarius. Perhaps you’ve been frustrated lately that your current adventure was about reconnecting with your closest relationships instead of riding off into the sunset with a new love. Take this step backwards to romanticize your existing connections one on one. Remember and let them remind you that soon you will be back on the horse with nothing but horizons.
Capricorn
What is being lost in the back cabinets when the service takes your full attention? If offers pop up in your professional or public domain, take time during this regression to get back to what is on your mind. And when that’s literally in the back of your closet, it’s time for an autumn glade. As you rethink what is dusting your life from neglect, you may find yourself reevaluating the give and take of your professional relationships. Libra energy wants you to balance the scales.
Aquarius
Your zodiac sign’s laboratory inspection of Jupiter and Saturn may have led you to examine your self-esteem under a microscope. Aquarius energy loves to look at the wide angle, but this step backwards is here to help you ponder how the smallest particles can look like an entire universe when you look closer. Your increased self-esteem can help you claim your place in the collective – or in relationship with another – when you’re ready to zoom out again. Be open to second chances in love. Just make sure you adjust the knobs on your bunsen burners to get balance.
fishes
Secrets and resentments that were once thrown away and buried in the sand wash up on your banks like a scene from “The Birds”. Sure, these relational horrors threaten to turn a scenic drive along the coast into a cinematic nightmare. But they also have wisdom. The more you can handle ailments as if you were combing the beach for precious treasure, the more you can withstand repetitive karmic patterns.
Amy Copperman is a writer from Oakland. During the day she works for LeanIn.Org. At night she studies the astro wisdom of Chani Nicholas and looks at patterns in the universe through art and tarot.
More horoscopes for San Francisco
– A Bay Area astrologer explains what your summer horoscope has in store
– A very San Francisco horoscope: What the stars have in store for the Gemini season
