Neptune in Pisces 2011 : Into the Mystic

Neptune was first observed by Galileo December 28, 1612, when it was zodiacally exactly conjunct Jupiter at 26° Virgo . . . however, Galileo thought it was a fixed star.  He did not know that Neptune was, in fact, stationary-retrograde on that very day, thus apparently motionless.  Also, he was seeing it with Jupiter, (both at 26° Virgo) a known “wanderer”, thus he could not have realized Neptune was a planet given the circumstances. Also, Neptune only covers a span of about 3 degrees every 18 months. Not a speedy pace.

Galileo observed Neptune, again, January 27th, 1613, but the cosmic shaman was thwarted both by the quality of his telescopes and the fact that Neptune was full into retrograde motion. At both sightings Neptune remained elusive to our collective consciousness, hiding in retrograde motion, disguised as a fixed star.

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The Retrograde cycles within the Mars Retrograde Cycle for August 2005 through February 2006

August 12th brings the most rare of all planetary retrogrades into full play once again in its 2 year 2 month (approx.) orbit of the sun. Mars’ complete retrograde cycle is from August 12th through February 4/5th of 2006 . Though Mars’ actual period in retrograde motion is from October 2nd 2005 through December, the full cycle occupies almost a full six months. Mars will remain between 8° Taurus and 23° Taurus, in this cycle, as it transits up to 23° Taurus, then stations retrograde back to 8° Taurus, where it stations direct, then forward again over those degrees to 23° Taurus. 

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A long, hot summer The Mars Retrograde Cycle for June through November 2003

This summer brings the rarest of all planetary retrogrades into full play. Mars’ complete retrograde cycle occupies the entire summer and autumn from June 18th through November 9th, Though its actual period in retrograde motion is from July 29th through September 28th, the approach to Mars’ station-retrograde, and its passing past the degree at which it did station-retrograde, occupies almost six months - that is one-half of the year - to fulfill.

Remaining in the first 10° of the sign Pisces for the entire six months of summer and autumn, it traverses forward, backward and forward again over those degrees. It first reaches 0° of Pisces on June 18th (the degree at which it will station-direct (Sd>) in November); then stations-retrograde (SRx) at 10° Pisces on July 29th; then stations-direct on Sept. 28th (at 0° Pisces).  Then, finally, moving on to complete the full cycle by November 9th, when it crosses back over the tenth degree of Pisces, which was its (its station-retrograde point in July).

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