Navigating the 2025 Personal Planet Retrogrades by Eleanor Campbell (Resident Astrologer in Waiting)

Review - Reflect - Consider

With so much happening worldwide, I found understanding the more significant trends challenging. Instead, I turned my attention to unusual planetary movements and noticed that our planets, Mars, Venus, and Mercury, are all in and/or entering retrograde. Although this is an optical illusion, retrograde motion symbolically indicates that the energy of these planets is turning inwards. These retrogrades during the first half of 2025 form a powerful, interlocking cycle of personal introspection and recalibration, an insistent invitation to;

Review – Reflect – Reconsider

Venus Retrograde

Venus retrograde begins on 1 March and continues until 12 April, after which Venus goes direct in Pisces. Venus embarks on a backward journey during this period, initially in assertive Aries and then moving into reflective Pisces. This transit challenges us to reexamine our relationships, values and self-worth. Past issues, old flames and unresolved wounds may resurface, urging us to resolve lingering conflicts and redefine what we truly value in love, creativity and finances. The last time Venus was at a similar point was eight years ago in 2017, which may offer valuable clues to what's happening now. As you work through these themes, remember to be gentle with yourself: tune in to your soul’s needs, work on your heart chakra and allow as much healing as needed. This period is not about forcing new beginnings but about pausing, sitting with where you are, and processing both personal and global changes that have affected your heart.

Mercury Retrograde

Mercury’s retrograde runs from 1 March to 7 April. Overlapping with Venus’s introspective energy, this phase will affect communication, decision-making and travel. It is a time to slow down, review your plans, revisit old ideas and clarify any ongoing misunderstandings. With Mercury’s energy shifting from the dreamy intuition of Pisces to the directness of Aries, you are encouraged to balance imaginative reflection with clear, concise expression. Essentially, this is a period for deep mental and emotional review, a chance to discard outdated information so that you can move forward with renewed clarity when Mercury resumes its direct motion in April.

Mars Retrograde

Mars has been retrograde since 6 December and will remain so until 23 February, after which it turns direct in Cancer. This retrograde may have left you feeling deflated or out of sync with your usual drive and ambition, a loss of personal power and direction, and sluggishness and frustration. This is an opportune time to reassess your goals and discover fresh inspiration or adopt a new approach as Mars turns direct on 23 February, especially under the nurturing influence of Cancer, which will have led to greater self-awareness before moving into the expansive and confident expressive energy of Leo at the end of April when the lessons from this period will begin to emerge. It is a call to reassert your individuality in a manner that is true to your inner self and aligned with your long-term ambitions, empowering you to become your inner champion.

Embracing the Deeper Work

With all these retrogrades in our personal planets, you are being gently guided to confront your shadow side. Now is the time to sit with your life as it is, to be present and to honour your journey with kindness, self-compassion and forgiveness, both for yourself and others. This period offers a beautiful opportunity for deep soul work, inviting you to process and integrate all that has been unfolding since October 2024, when Mars entered its retrograde shadow, through to May when these energies set the stage for even more significant changes. Here are some things to ponder.

Reflect and Review: Take this period to assess what you truly want for your future. Reflect on past patterns and karmic relationships; you know the ones! Allow yourself to let go of who and what no longer serves you.

Embody Your Emotions: Rather than resisting or suppressing your feelings, lean into them. Work through your emotions, acknowledge them, and gently release them. This process builds emotional resilience and intelligence.

Become Your Champion: Align yourself with your inner truth, clear your energy of distractions, and focus on nurturing the healing parts of yourself. This is the moment to close chapters that need ending, making space for new pathways, fresh expressions, and the ongoing authentic stories in your life.

Integration for the Future: As these retrograde energies resolve by May, you will emerge with a clearer sense of who you are, what ignites your passion, and who you wish to accompany you on your journey. The introspection and heart work you invest now will prepare you to manifest a future that truly reflects you, along with your deepest desires and values, which will be much clearer by now.

Contending with the Incoming Pisces Energy

Beyond these retrogrades, there is also a lineup of planets moving into Pisces, the last sign of the zodiac, which brings a significant dose of emotional and feminine energy. At times, you may feel overwhelmed by it all, it feels like you are drowning; however, you are simply treading water, building up both physical and emotional resilience. This phase is about strengthening your boundaries, clearing your mind and preparing to swim confidently into the future that you are creating. It signals completions and endings across various aspects of your life, inviting a profound personal review before stepping into your next cycle.

The Venus Star Point

Of note is the upcoming rare alignment known as the Venus Star Point. On 22 March in Aries, this event marks the beginning of a new Venus cycle, a cosmic reset in how we relate to love, beauty, values, money and abundance. It is a pivotal moment in your world, inviting you to tune into your passions, clarify your intentions and focus on creating your desired life. Reflect on and integrate the insights gained during the retrograde phases; in doing so, you empower yourself to clear out old, limiting patterns and set the stage for an authentic and personally enriched future.

A Final Reminder of your “Super-Power”

When you change, everything around you changes. This is the level of control we all have. You can transform any aspect of your life by using your heart's intelligence to guide you. Remember: you have all the power and control you need. You can manifest the future you want to live; you have to believe in yourself. Use this period wisely!