If you’re still recovering from the Halloweekend hangover, enjoy the rest while you can. While October gave us no shortage of cosmic chaos (don’t get me started on September… *shudders*), November also puts us in the middle of not one, not two, but three retrogrades. When will I ever know peace?
I’m just being dramatic, so don’t freak out. If it makes you feel any better, the cosmic chaos in November is a big improvement from last month. However, it’s important to know what the stars are up to, and how certain transits can impact your feelings, outlook on certain things, and even your relationships. From Neptune to Mars, here’s everything you need to know about the three planets retrograding this November.
Wait, WTF Is A Retrograde?
Before we get into these transits, we have to start with the basics: what even is a retrograde? In simple terms, when a planet retrogrades, it appears to slow down and move backward. However, the planet only appears to change direction and speed — throughout retrograde, the transits are essentially moving forward as usual. Think of it as those times in your life when you’re really going through something: for a time, it feels like everything is moving backward. Yet, in reality, you’re still moving forward and growing — and you don’t even realize it until after that period is over.
Yeah, the term “retrograde” has gotten a bad rep in the past — especially when it comes to the notorious Mercury retrograde. However, retrogrades are an important time for all of us to slow down, take a step back, and reevaluate certain parts of our lives. After all is said and done, and life speeds up again, we all might realize that a little chaos was just what we needed to grow.
What Planets Are Retrograding In November 2022?
Like I said before, November’s retrogrades are a lot less freaky than October’s. Out of the three planets in retrograde, only one is a new transit — the other two have been stationed in retrograde for the past few months. Still, retrograde transits are notoriously known to wreak havoc on our personal lives, and it’s important for all of us to know exactly what’s coming.
Neptune Retrograde (Jun. 28 — Dec. 3):
Since Neptune is further from the sun, it affects us a little less than most retrogrades. However, with Neptune retrograding in its dreamy home sign of Pisces, it may be a little more powerful… especially for Pisces placements.
Neptune is the planet of intuition, spirituality, and compassion, as well as dreams and higher consciousness. This retrograde may be bringing you more clarity in terms of your goals, hopes, and dreams. While things may have been feeling foggy for a while, you’ll feel more self-assured as we near the end of this transit in early December.
Uranus Retrograde (Aug. 24 — Jan. 22, 2023):
Like Neptune, Uranus is far from the sun and isn’t considered much of a cosmic threat in terms of retrograde. However, it’s worth noting that Uranus is the planet of chaos, disruption, and unexpected change. Gulp.
But don’t be alarmed! Stationed in the grounded sign of Taurus, this retrograde is actually kind of a good thing. The Uranus retrograde encourages all of us to break away from the things in our lives that holding us back, and the changes we experience can actually push us into a happier (and healthier) direction as we enter 2023.
Mars Retrograde (Oct. 30 — Jan. 12, 2023):
Finally, the Mars retrograde is the star of the (cosmic) show. With this transit entering right at the beginning of Scorpio season, and in the sign of Gemini, the Mars retrograde sets the stage for a little bit of drama into the New Year.
Mars is the planet of war, action, and ambition. Pair that with Gemini — the sign of communication and interpersonal relationships — and you’ve got a recipe for chaos. However, don’t freak out just yet. This retrograde can actually help us in terms of how we communicate our desires, how we act on our goals, and how we exert our energy in relationships. Weirdly enough, it’s a good thing! The Mars retrograde allows us to think more critically about our thoughts, ideas, and projects into 2023.