The moon walks through a fiery furnace, while two planets pause in the sky.

First, Saturn turns retrograde in the evening, the last visible planet that we can observe with the naked eye.

This will already be Saturn’s second retrograde since it entered Pisces in March 2023.
Saturn gives things their structure and shape. It is the planet that shows how self-disciplined and organized we are. It governs authorities and the boundaries we set for ourselves or those imposed on us by others. We could say it represents the hard hand that shapes our lives. Saturn is also Chronos, the god of time, moving slowly, step by step. It often happens that we take three steps forward and then take one or two steps back due to our fears (Saturn governs our fears).

With diligent work, Saturn can ultimately reward us if we meet its demands: no shortcuts, only hard, constant, and persistent effort.

During Saturn’s retrograde, Saturn’s qualities turn inward. Retrograde gives us the opportunity to review our long-term goals and plans, to see if they still align with our expectations and efforts. We often change our perspectives and redraw existing goals. During retrograde, we strive for a different structure and order. We often realize that something is still missing. This is a time when we seek strength and wisdom within ourselves to determine the right direction after Saturn’s retrograde ends.

For those with a pronounced influence of Saturn in their chart (ruler of the birth chart or a strong aspect in the chart), the time of Saturn’s retrograde can be intense, marked by increased sadness, depression, or even poorer health.

Now that Saturn is in Pisces, we are even more susceptible to viruses, bacteria, and the overall functioning of the immune system.

Saturn’s retrograde brings the theme of Pisces to the forefront. It seems as if nothing goes as it should. In Pisces, structure, boundaries, and everything Saturn represents dissolve and blur. It feels like we are drifting with the flow of life without understanding the true meaning that would explain the current situation. The true meaning, the essence, will likely reveal itself later, as Pisces is a truly ethereal and elusive sign that cannot be clearly defined.

Additional confusion is added by an anaretic Neptune standing at its last degree of Pisces, together with the fixed star Scheat. Neptune changes its direction on Tuesday. If we need more rest or feel lethargic without real energy, this is all due to the strong influence of Neptune, along with Saturn.

Let me add that we are also entering the period of the upcoming eclipse and a time when the moon wavers. The moon is unstable then, as its nodes form a tense aspect with the Sun. This will awaken restlessness, unusualness, and events in people that cannot be rationally explained. A higher power speaks during this time, and it is wise not to provoke events and to wait for this instability to pass.