Uranus Retrograde: Rethink, Reboot and Transform
Planet Uranus, the ruler of the air sign Aquarius, brings forth ever more radical life changes during its retrograde. But, oftentimes, these changes are totally unexpected. Uranus wants us to drastically and quickly improve our lives and not be afraid of altering the status quo in the meantime. And we sure get braver during its backward period so there’s no reason not to make the most out of it!
To go through this period successfully, check out the sign it’s in plus the area of your life the transit touches. This should help you focus your energy in a more directed manner and be more prepared for any surprises that may crop up. But regardless of the life sector influenced by this period, do remember that improvement comes from within. So, you want to be the director of this time rather than the recipient, or worse still, the victim.
Uranus’ Astrological Profile
Uranus rules Aquarius and its exalted in the water sign Scorpio. It carries an element of surprise in the birth chart. This mysterious and distant outer planet isn’t a personal one like Mercury, Mars, or Venus, but it has the capacity to impact our lives just as much. Uranus also needs plenty of freedom and independence to lead us toward the transformation that will better our lives.
Besides its rebellious nature, Uranus also rules technology, progress, and… astrology! It’s considered the higher octave of Mercury as it works mostly with our intellectual and rational side. Its energy is all about uniqueness and originality which is why all of its challenges are meant to contribute to our personal development.
The placement of Uranus in our charts, as well as its transits, determine the areas of life we can expect to witness radical change. The sign this planet is in on the chart speaks of the type of energy we invest in these transitional phases and what rapport we create with events that push us to break out of our comfort zone.
Uranus in Retrograde Explained
Most people think of Mercury when they think of retrogrades and in general, when Mercury is in retro, people tend to worry about things going wrong. But no retrograde is to be feared really.
This mysterious planet looks like its moving backward every year for about five months, so quite a long time. And just like all the other retrogrades, it doesn’t change its trajectory during this time but rather, it appears to move slower from our earthly perspective.
While we expect Uranus to walk an predictable path, this period tends to place us on even stranger paths. The sign it’s in at this time determines what types of changes you can possibly expect it.
During this period, you will not necessarily feel an urge to change the world around you or transform your life like you might during Uranus direct. No, instead, you may feel changes within yourself, like in the way you think about and perceive your life as it currently is.
It’s said that this is a brilliant time to change some things about yourself should you wish, rather than attempt to change your environment. Remember that as you grow and evolve, your new mindset will impact other aspects of your life and attract new opportunities — and possibly even a new path in life as a result.
Embrace this Quirky Cosmic Energy
There’s no point in fighting this period as it would only make your life harder and slow down your personal development. You’ll not feel the effects of it as intensely as you might feel Mercury in retrograde or a Full Moon, but know that its energy exists and it might impact your life for a good few months.
Be Honest with Yourself
Try to be as honest with yourself as possible by analyzing your thought patterns, behavior, and actions objectively. Try to understand things like why you think or feel a certain way, what your self-imposed limitations are, and how you could change yourself for the better.
I’d even recommend developing a healthy self-critical voice during this time to encourage you to reach the best version of yourself. Don’t beat yourself up over past or present mistakes but rather try to understand why you made certain choices. And remember that we all make mistakes! We literally came to Earth to learn through our mistakes. It’s a normal, and arguably important, part of being human. It’s how we learn and grow.
Know Your Fears
Being aware of your fears is especially important during this period. Most of the time, our fears are responsible for locking us in comfort zones that prevent us from growing and evolving. If you acknowledge the fears which are holding you back, you might find it easier to overcome them.
Allow Yourself to Grow
Once you start a self-awareness phase that reveals important details about your nature and you understand your fears, permit yourself to grow. Growth is a complex process and might extend well after this periods ends. I firmly believe that our personal development should be a constant factor in our lives and many astrological transits occur to support this process in various different ways.
Pay Attention to Your Thoughts and Feelings
I’d suggest putting your thoughts and feelings under a magnifier. Try not to be reactive. Take your time before you respond to any type of situation. A poorly calculated response to a complex situation may trigger sudden changes in your life that are not always for your benefit. For instance, if you snap at your significant other, you risk damaging your relationship irreversibly. And if your natal Uranus is in Aries or forms aspects with a planet in Aries, you might have this tendency. So, self-control is just as important as self-awareness during this time.
Uranus Retrograde Dos and Don’ts
Certain things will help you ride the waves of this period like a pro, while others may create unnecessary issues. Here are my personal dos and don’ts for this time:
Dos
Make Thoughtful, Rational Changes to Improve Your Life
Remember that Uranus will never let things be the same way it found them so, to some extent, change is inevitable anyway. It’s up to you to embrace it and make the most out of whatever happens.
Try to identify the changes that need to be made to reach your potential. You can do this by sitting quietly with a pen and paper or device and jot down what you’re content with in life and what you’d like to change. Then put together a plan to implement those changes.
If sudden changes occur, manage them as best as you can. Try to see the light in them. At the very least, they may point out what you don’t prefer in life and make you think about what you’d like to experience instead by contrast.
You want to work on improving your weaknesses too. Keep in mind that perfection is an illusion and you only want to compare yourself with the old version of yourself, not other people.
Don’t Be Afraid to Leave Your Comfort Zone
We all like a certain level of comfort but it’s important to notice when our comfort zone is holding us back from actually making progress in life. If your comfort zone becomes a cage that traps your true potential, it’s time to break out of it!
Fear usually keeps us trapped in an unhealthy comfort zone but by identifying the cause of the fear, we stand a great chance of breaking free from it. This might require a lot of introspection but in the long run, you stand to benefit greatly from it.
Decide Which Values Are Good for You
As we move through life, we can pick up values that don’t necessarily align with who we really are deep down. Focus on what you feel is genuinely good for you, rather than what you were told is good for you. If you identify certain values that don’t truly resonate with you, this is the best time to eliminate them. You don’t have to push against everything you picked up as a child or young adult, but developing your own set of values will help you to lead a more productive, and ultimately happier, life!
Re-evaluate Your Plans
From your day-by-day routine to your most important life goals, this is a great time to recalibrate your objectives. Don’t be afraid to quit plans that don’t align with the new version of yourself or implement new ones that you couldn’t, for whatever reason, implement before. You have all the cosmic support needed to be successful.
Don’ts
Get Stuck in Old Habits
If you decide to stay stuck in your old ways of doing things, you could be putting a wall up between yourself and your true potential. Try to be open to new opportunities that could help you to discover new sides to your personality. If you truly believe in yourself, you won’t hold onto old ways of doing things because you know you can do life better and wiser.
Hold on to Useless Traditions
Some traditions have sentimental value and unless they stop you from growing and leading a productive life, you can keep them and even cherish them. But the traditions that put locks on your life and relationships and stop you from exploring the world need to go.
Always compare a certain custom with what you feel and think in the present moment. All our lives we gather information that helps us see the world through different filters. As you change and evolve, some traditions might not blend well your true self anymore.
Refrain from Speaking Your Mind
Say what you honestly think. Who knows; maybe your opinions can make a true difference in the world, but you won’t know until you express them. So, if you agree or disagree with something, let your audience know. Try to speak your mind wisely and diplomatically, though. You want to bring new ideas and light into the world, not create unnecessary conflict.
Ignore the Social Context
We can’t forget that Uranus is a planet that influences collective energy and therefore, its retrograde might alter social context too. You don’t want to ignore these global changes but rather adapt to them in a way that helps you align with the higher purpose of humanity.
Some trends may emerge that you agree with as well as others you might find a bit weird, silly or distasteful. Just ignore the ones that don’t resonate with you.
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