The Prismatic Benefits of Retrogrades

Retrogrades are feared, loathed, sensationalized, dreaded by so many with good reason, but they can also be a reprieve delivering untold amounts of unexpected benefits.

A retrograde occurs when from an earthbound geocentric perspective, the planet in question appears to be moving backward along the ecliptic. Retrogrades are optical illusions, the planets never actually shift directions in reality. Embracing this maneuvering mindfuckery during these periods is easier than fighting the effects of what is happening. 

A retrograde isn’t always a downgrade. Let’s discuss the pros and cons, which occur simultaneously, because let’s be honest, nothing is binary, linear, or clear during retrogrades, existence becomes kaleidoscopic, with prismatic phosphenes scattering what you thought you were seeing clearly.

Pros, Cons and Effects of Retrogrades (applies to every planet)

• Awkwardness

• Disrepair

• Confusion

• Upsets

• Breakdowns

• Unpredictability

• Accidents

• Irritations

• Anomalies

• Adjustments

• Revealing, Eye-opening Occurrences

  • Retrogrades perspectives and insights you would have never seen during the status quo “normal” direct motion movement of planets

• Pacing shifts 

  • Often slowing down, but retrogrades can just feel irregular or nonroutine. The shift in the sense of time allows for an expanse in purview, seeing different facets of the full picture that were obscure during direct motion

• Timeline Collapse

  • The past, present and future converging in inexplicable ways.
    
    

Pros, Cons and Effects of Venus retrograde

• Depression

• Dullness

• Boredom

• Disappointment

• Longing

• Yearning

• Amplified or Waning Desires

• Revelation of odd attractions (new, old, suppressed, resurrected, all kinds)

• Unexpected Gifts

• Finding love in unforeseen circumstances

• Enjoying Weird Things

• Disgusted or Nonplussed by What You Once Loved
  
  

PROS, CONS AND Effects of Mercury retrograde

• Communication and transportation disasters

• Misunderstandings

• Mishaps of all kinds

• Delays

• An enforced break from routine

• An excuse to not push forward excessively on whatever goal

• A reason to surrender and trust higher forces to lead the way
  
  

YOUR MINI-HOROSCOPES FOR VENUS AND MERCURY RETROGRADE OCTOBER 3 TO NOVEMBER 13 2026

ARIES ♈:

Dreamy and substantive, you’re yearning for healing, love and inspiration. Many reveries and reflections regarding life cycles, the way relationships played their course, are spinning and being reviewed. You’re sitting with purpose, wondering what’s the point of it all. Very romantic, your heart is open, empathic, and the only way through is feeling it out in a meditative state, really tapping into health, routine, magic, the ether, nutrition to help you stabilize as your sensitive heart gets loud and vulnerable with its profound desires.

TAURUS ♉:

This is a period of deep mining and audits for you, emotionally, financially, in regards to your commitments and relationships. A lot of secrets or hidden elements are popping up to the foreground affecting your home, family, agreements, and partnerships of all kinds. Laying things to rest, final conclusions loom and at this point the best move is to go with what excites you, what lights you up. Some dynamics that were once essential are dried up and no longer foundational. You can’t grow a new harvest from desiccated soil. This is a true adieu period, with final goodbyes leading to emotional and relationship resurrections and massive joie de vivre.

GEMINI ♊:

Routines are not the same. At least not during this retrograde period, you’ve got shifting priorities, what is normally on the to-do list takes a backburner and what has been left on the sidelines becomes primary to perform. You’re busy, with this and that person to talk to and see, this and that event, this and that obligation, but there are tasks you are so unwilling to procrastinate on any longer, that you will do at all costs. You’re committed to transforming life and finding more balance. It cannot wait any longer. It’s all a learning process, of course, but that’s where you thrive and you’ve got this. You don’t need an anchored direction to be progressive and successful, do it all, be profuse.

CANCER ♋:

You are really at a critical interval when it comes to assessing your level of involvement, particularly with groups, associations, friendships and romantic relationships. Your ideals have transformed so much in the past few years and this feels like an integration period when you are really sinking into the person you have become and the implications for your new identity in the wider world. Fortunately, the drains are easy to spot. When you feel depletion, ickiness or just like something is off, those are all the indications you need to justify a retreat. You are just not available to everyone and everything anymore. You’re at energetic capacity, and refuse to expend energy in a manner that leaves you spent. You recognize your value. You’ve become more exclusive. Go into the crab shell at will, solitude is helpful and healing for you during this retrograde cycle.

LEO ♌:

A force to be reckoned with, you’re motivated on such a profound level to usher in life improvements. For yourself, certainly, but also in society, for the collective. Certain facets of reality right now are just not sitting right with you, and you’re ready to transform. This may sound trite, but full on experimentation, throwing your hat over the fence, hurtling yourself into the unknown, boldly going where no one has gone before, that is the protocol for your success during this time period. This is like a “f**k it, I’ve had enough,” phase. Lots of release is happening, throwing everything up in the air, letting the chips fall where they may and approaching every obstacle with creativity and courage. You’ve got nothing to lose. Blast like the wind, Leo, roar.

VIRGO ♍:

OK, you’re moving. Writing, philosophy, traveling, spiritual beliefs, composing, publishing, being seen and heard are the major themes of this retrograde for you. You may find yourself in more of a responsible role that shifts your daily life routines, you’re anchoring into a foreign new normal right now. A lot of this doesn’t make immediate sense, even if it feels right. Just know, lean in when you’ve got the gumption, your intuition is bang on. And you can feel it, the Source force (god, universe, whatever you call this) propelling you in the best possible direction. That’s all you need to know. One of the greatest challenges you may face during this retrograde period is resting on true faith, belief, instead of plans and logic. Lean in on the mystery, you’ll land on your feet perhaps five million strides ahead of where you could have planned to be.

LIBRA ♎:

Logistics get weird with money, debt, banks, relationships. Like, what is owed? At points it could feel like obfuscation, but this is really a revelation about value. It’s not always clear immediately what is due, beholden, indebted or the like, this period is an active exploration of defining terms as you go along. You’re entering new territory and frontiers, seeing sides of people and things that have been hidden up until now. The revelations require a shift in perspective that sees you drawing on personal resources you may not have known you possess. Oddly, in perfect retrograde fashion, the best way to navigate all these shifting conditions is to pursue the route, person, or obligation that you’re most in love with. That’s the litmus, love energy, inspiration, being enamoured with someone or something.

SCORPIO ♏:

Here we go again with that work-life balance polarity, or irregularity. You’re being stretched in multiple directions and people lean on you precisely because you make a big difference. Your impact is widely felt and you’re a total boss, but the pull to leave the fray of the external world for some quiet time in a personal sanctuary is so very strong during this retrograde period. One of the biggest issues is doing what YOU want to do, it’s like wanting autonomy over how you want to spend your time is the conflict. You don’t want to obey what the world needs from you, you want to live life on your own terms. It is perfectly possible to make time for it all, yourself, the world, your nearest and dearest, but exactly how is what you’re settling in this retrograde period. 

SAGITTARIUS ♐:

This retrograde cycle is such a cool epoch of divine inspiration for you. While everyone else in the vicinity might be slogging, you’re on a totally heightened level of reverie and bewitched musing. Honestly, this is an absolutely wonderful time for creations of all kinds, songwriting, spiritual rituals, writing, dancing, whatever creative or etheric medium calls to you, follow the impulse. You are vibing so high and this is actually the perfect window of time to be visible, push what you do, market, be loud with your beliefs, projects, goals, all of it. It’s not a point of waiting or holding, even though there is a lot of value in not signing contracts or whatever during retrogrades, that doesn’t mean you need to dim your light. Keep disseminating, being vocal, out there, in the spotlight despite it all and you’ll find yourself in the right place at the right time for a major boost and boon.

CAPRICORN ♑:

It’s time to have fun. You’re always on top of obligations and it’s not like they don’t continue pressing, they do, but flights of delight are just as important to life as managing responsibilities. Partying like your life depends on it might be the most potent elixir right now. Joyous escapes help with everything, including the continued dramatic happenings developing in your home, family, money and intimate sectors. You’re expanding, a lot of it is deep, like curtailing years of mistreatment and settling into a new version of yourself, with distinct parameters for what you need to be whole and well now, versus what you needed in the past. A little pleasure goes a long way in helping to shape these new holistic foundations for you. 

AQUARIUS ♒:

Throbbing intensity infiltrates almost every aspect of your life. Love and romance, your most intimate relationships, are palpitating, so is work, career, and engagement with the public. There’s not a dull moment right now and even though an Aquarian loves some adventure, the hyperactivity and hyperintensity could be problematic. It’s just too much. Like where’s the relief? You can run on adrenaline, it’s intoxicating, but the physical limits of the body has its own finite terms. Relief is something that you totally have access to, but in this retrograde window you’ll have to enforce it, literally carving (or clawing) out moments of rest and solitude when you can find it. 

PISCES ♓:

You’re entering new echelons with your sage role. Being of service and healing is highly important for you during this retrograde era. Looking into ways to improve your health and wellbeing, through doctor visits or other types of remedies, would behoove you, but it looks like you’ll be volunteering or taking on a healing or caretaking role within your community as well. All healing ventures contribute to the greater good. Let that be your focus and everything else starts to fly.