Daily life unfolds at an almost reckless pace as pressure builds. The next six days of May are the last days before Mars begins a two-month retrograde period. On May 11, as Mars downshifts into reverse, the etheric brakes go on. While life won't exactly come to a screeching halt, the next two months unravel with ever increasing waves of frustration. You'll need a healthy dose of patience to navigate the jarring rhythm of this backward force.
Retrograde phases are a time to review, reconsider, and reconnoiter.
When the planets seemingly move in reverse, we retrace previously covered ground. All the big planets, Jupiter , Saturn , Uranus , Neptune , and Pluto , retrograde during the year. We're used to these planetary course corrections, tending only to notice their impact the week or day they turn around. Mercury retrogrades three times a year, and even though its retrograde phase is a drag, we're learning to put it to good use. Venus retrogrades approximately every 18-19 months.