88 Retrograde-Free Days: Use this Boon!

 

From January 22 to April 21 this year—all planets are direct. What an auspicious symbol for making progress! All the planets are going in the same direction. With none retrograde, we reach an exquisite portal for manifesting dreams.

This relatively rare celestial condition was dubbed “APDM” (All Planets Direct Motion) by astrologer Wave Rayne, who’s collected the most data on this phenomenon. APDM seems to occur about once every year—although it came twice in 2010, not at all in 2014, and after 2039, doesn’t happen again for 40 years.

The planets are an ordered yet unruly bunch. That’s clear with these “no retrograde” zones. There’s a whimsical, seemingly random quality to when and for how long they appear. They can last from just one to three days. Or maybe six weeks. Or they can stretch to nearly three months—which happily, is what happens this year.

Two Zero-Degree Portals of Discovery

What’s more—about halfway through this period, in March, first Saturn (March 7), then Pluto (March 23), enter zero degrees of a new sign.  When a slower moving planet like Saturn and Pluto enter zero degrees of the next sign, a fabulous portal opens up in the world and within our psyche. Zero degrees of a new sign draws in a potent gust of fresh spirit. Something new is stirred inside. We get a taste of the future when a slow-moving planet reaches zero degrees. We reach a celestial discovery zone.

• Saturn enters Pisces this year, a sign he transits once every 30 years. Those with Saturn in Pisces in their birth charts are getting their Saturn returns. But for all of us, new lesson plans are being written–by a Saturn now dressed in the wizard’s garb of mystical/magical Pisces.   Practical earthy Saturn merges with the energy of water. You can manifest your dreams with this rich combination. Or you can get lost wandering around in the mud. Saturn stays in a sign for roughly two and a half years–which means he’ll write his messages in your Pisces house between now and 2025/early 2026.  What does he want you to work on for the next couple years?  Pay special attention to the week he’s at zero degrees–from March 7 to March 16.  Listen. You may get clues. You can also seed your desires.
• Pluto travels even more slowly–and more irregularly than Saturn. His elliptical orbit puts him in one sign from between 12 to 30 years. Pluto sends powerful transformations through our psyche and culture. We’ve watched him ravage our institutions and leaders during his ride through Capricorn since 2008.  This year he briefly enters progressive, humanistic Aquarius, where he’ll be from 2024 through 2044.  He gives us a long zero degree discovery portal–from March 23 to June 11. Play attention to the shifting of power inside yourself and in the outer world.

Which brings us back to this year’s retrograde-free zone.  Watch for signs–and get moving on something!  No excuses anymore.  The celestial freeway is clear.  This doesn’t necessarily mean that everything is destined to go your way. About these retro-free weeks, I sometimes hear astrologers say things like, “During this blissful window, you can make rapid progress in all areas of your life.” Or: “These will be peaceful, harmonious weeks during which your mind will be remarkably clear.”

Let’s face it. It’s absurd to think we’ll all have the same experience.  Or that any day or any project will go perfectly.  Besides, the planets have a poor track record for predicting events. If they were better at it, we’d find astrology departments in every institution and business in the land.  Who wouldn’t want to know all the outcomes ahead of time?

The sky is rather a symbol. Or as the first astrologers, the Mesopotamians, believed, the planets carry messages from the gods. They tell us which way the wind is blowing.  It’s up to us to do something about it. That’s how we make magic with astrology. We follow the signs and offer ourselves into the appropriate avenues.

Align your archetypes

When all planets are going in the same direction, this suggests that you should do likewise. This is an auspicious time to get all of your forces going towards the same dream.

Most people have several voices in their head. And lots of different directions in which they could go. Your birth planets offer a convenient way to identify these voices. Chart placements can reveal some of the secrets in your subconscious; for example, how certain archetypes tend to sabotage the others.

Yet occasionally you can–and should–get every one of your inner voices on the same page. Is there a dream enticing enough that you can enlist each archetype to do its part in the dream’s unfolding?  You may need to stop Saturn from attacking the Moon. Or prevent Mars from wandering into thoughtless dangers.  Get them both to fly under the same flag as your benefics, Venus and Jupiter.

So how do you move archetypes?  Awareness of these different energies is of course the key. Consciousness is our finest power. Without knowledge of your inner landscape, you can’t get in the game.  Again, your birth chart is quite gifted at revealing this psychic territory. You may already know some of your inner troublemakers and heroes.  But approach this moment with a broad, forgiving love for all of them.  You may wish your 12th house Sun was more confident, but let yourself instead appreciate his fine imagination.

Keeping your archetypal team in mind, begin by setting your sankalpa (the Sanskrit word for intention).  Manifestation begins with a vision.  Your dream.  Once you have this, do something to crystallize your vision.  Find the perfect words and write this down.  Another wonderful option is making a vision board. Vision boards (or treasure maps) have been around for a long time (Google this if you’re unfamiliar).  It’s a great way to let your angels speak as they invite you to explore this year’s exquisite possibilities. If you’re a visual person, do keep your vision map in view. Your subconscious sees this–absorbs it–each time you walk past. Sometimes it’s nice to just stand silently in front of it.

If you’re more awakened into the auditory realm, create a musical affirmation that’s as infectious as a wonderful ear worm. You want to find yourself regularly humming it, as you go along in the days ahead. That’s how your subconscious will absorb the message.  If you’re kinesthetic—if embodied sensation is the best route into your subconscious–find a mudra, a hand gesture; or an exalted pose; or a brief and joyful dance. Surrender into the sensations of your coming success.

I’m not sure what I’ll be doing with the Pluto and Saturn shifts–but I’m eager to sniff the air when they do.

 

What’s happening in your chart this year?  Your Skylog report will tell you.  With great precision it identifies what I call “the lords on your altar” each year.  You can order yours here. 

**Updated 1/20–I originally had it at 92 days, but thanks to a reader, remembered that Uranus doesn’t go direct until the 22nd!