Uranus Retrograde in Aries ♅ Aug 2 – Jan 2

Aug 2 – Jan 2, 2018

Planets in retrograde are not actually spinning backwards – it is entirely an optical illusion as seen from Earth. Backwards motion appears to happen when Earth passes slower moving planets in the outer solar system. In astrology, this illusion manifests as a “backwards” functioning of the planetary roles. Click here to learn more about retrograde.

Uranus turns retrograde for five months every year. Ruler of the zodiac’s notorious rebel Aquarius, Uranus is all about freedom. Uranus defies tradition and embraces eccentricity. He is innovative and progressive, ruling areas of life like intellectual enlightenment, unorthodoxy and scientific discovery. Uranus is the spark of curiosity which propels us to ask deep questions and challenge societal norms.

Uranus has occupied Aries since May 2010. This has manifested collectively as societal unrest. All that has been suppressed must rise to the surface. Corruption and scandal must be unearthed. Archaic, conventional ideologies are destroyed beneath the feet of those who march the streets, screaming truth to power. Global transformation continues to blossom exponentially. Political, financial and social institutions must meet the forward-thinking demands of younger, radical minds if they are to survive at all. This is what happens when the fire of Aries ignites Uranus, the great God of Awakening. The ram, being the first sign in the zodiac, burns every standing structure so that we may be reborn together.

Retrograde cycles are designed to uproot us from jobs, relationships, perspectives or behaviors which have calcified over time and no longer represent our highest vibration. Uranus Retrograde pulls up like a mad scientist in a wonky flying contraption, but instead of flying to the farthest star, we’re going to fly deep into the heart of our inner rebel and wake her UP. Life is about to get very weird and full of the totally unexpected.

When Uranus turns retrograde, challenges present themselves immediately and aggressively, making them impossible to ignore. Fortunately, revelations also come suddenly and without warning. Our priorities remain clear and unobstructed throughout every challenge, even when we try to undermine them. Uranus Retrograde is devilish in pace. Life tends to feel a little more extreme at this time. You may be unusually restless, anxious or overreactive during the coming months, but certainly not lost. New levels of conscious awareness are rapidly attained under such conditions. Uranus Retrograde will systematically peel away every aspect of life which doesn’t fully support our obligation to be independent badasses.

Uranus Retrograde lifts long-forgotten veils – dusty drapes concealing incendiary, insurrectionary spirits, oh how she pulses and quivers, how she lines our veins and begs to be set free. There is nothing comfortable about this. You will feel major shift happening but may not always be able to harness it, so keep in mind that more time may be spent processing these changes rather than acting on them.

Uranus Retrograde encourages insubordinate thoughts. When Uranus turns direct again, we will work directly with this new revolutionary energy and fully morph into a fucking warrior. Internal change must come before external change, so the inner rebel steps down to reflect. This is typical for retrograde periods as they are pensive in nature. When planets are retrograde, we rest and prepare for more energetic, uninhibited times ahead. When the moon draws in her tides, the mind and body grow quiet. So it is with the other planets. Retrograde cycles represent the ebb and flow of life. We are not always active and productive, and in fact we are more active and productive when we give ourselves time not to be, and that’s exactly what Uranus is providing now.

As with any retrograde cycle, Uranus Retrograde is a test, and this one heats to scorching. Specifically, it is a test of dignity. Uranus wants to see how long you will tolerate being patronized, exploited or underestimated.

Collapse the cage. Run from your captors. Unfurl your wings, unleash your voice, set fire to the wildness brewing just beneath your skin. Beware the ones who promise everything and hold your liberty high. Everything about this transit bespeaks the unforeseen, the instantaneous, the catastrophe or the rapture, you decide. Do not underestimate or try to control your inner rebel or she will come out all at once, seemingly from nowhere.

Celebrate with Aries Yoga. I was born with Uranus Retrograde. To find your Uranus sign and whether he was direct or retrograde at the time of your birth, click here.

Mantra:  freedom