Retrogrades in 2026: Saturn

Merry Meet and welcome to you magickal souls!!!!

Saturn is the next planet to turn retrograde and will do so from 26th July until 10th December this year. Retrograde is an optical illusion so when a planet is "seen" to turn retrograde, it is believed that the planet's energy becomes less obvious and more internal.

Saturn is the planet associated with restrictions, limitations and obstacles or blockages. This may be due to the rings that surround this particular outer planet. Because this is an outer planet and sits outside the asteroid belt, its usual effects are more likely to be felt in our wider lives. Essentially, it's not like Mars, Venus and Mercury which are seen as inner planets.

Saturn will be retrograding in the sign of Aries, the sign that starts the zodiac wheel off. This brings the fiery, "go get 'em" energy to the mix. Aries is represented by the Ram, an animal which is not always likely to take the easiest route towards a goal.

Putting all of these energies together, it seems as if the next few months will be full of questions that relate to what is stopping me from getting started on projects, what is stopping me from working towards my goals, and why I feel I need to take the most difficult route to get there.

To help me to navigate the next five months, I have curated a spread and pulled cards from The Light Seer's Tarot deck.

What is my theme for this retrograde?

9 of Cups

I would usually associate this card with celebrating, with being proud of my journey so far while knowing that I was not quite at the end of the journey.

However, the person depicted within this card seems to have found some form of abundance and is jumping for joy, almost jumping towards freedom.

It's almost as if I'm being reminded to let go of any perceived limitations, especially with Saturn being connected to those with its (symbolic) restrictive rings.

This card could also be telling me to consider what stops me from celebrating and finding joy in general. I have struggled to truly feel any joy when it comes to achieving anything as during my childhood, they weren't really celebrated and as a result, I certainly didn't feel happy about them.

What barrier or obstacle is being brought to my attention?

10 of Cups

With this card, I really do feel as if it is confirming the feeling I had with the 9 of Cups.

This card depicts two adults watching two children, with the children appearing to be playing and enjoying themselves.

The rainbow symbolises celebration and joy but also connection.

I do feel as if I have a disconnect with truly celebrating anything good because of certain events within my childhood. I was always compared to my classmates and friends, so anything I achieved never felt like it was good enough.

So perhaps I need to really do some work on integrating this aspect of my past with healing to see if I can find more ways to celebrate my own achievements. Or even just to reward myself for doing them.

How can I overcome it?

Temperance

Temperance is one of my favourite cards and I love that it appears here.

This card always seems to be a reminder to be patient. There's a saying that I feel is embodied by this card: Softly, softly, catchee monkey. It's all about taking my time and not rushing into things without thinking them through to achieve my goals.

Because the Sun and Moon are shown within this card, I feel as if this card is also saying that I can overcome my past if I take things as they come because everything has phases and times to happen. I cannot force healing but I can balance the darker phases of my past, symbolised by the moon, with the lightness and joy symbolised by the sun.

There's also an element of not always needing to do things to heal as I can be like the man and just sit with everything.

What changes will this bring to my life?

Judgement

This card is near the end of the Major Arcana, seemingly symbolising looking back and reflecting on everything shortly before the cycle starts again.

However, this card feels more like it's referring to freedom or being set free from something. Perhaps I will be free of some wounds from my past, but I could also just feel more free to be myself.

I can be my own worst critic but I have already been working on not being so critical, with my health issues helping me to learn these lessons (even if not as willingly as I could be). However, I know I can still improve this.

So if I can heal some part of the wounds from my childhood, I should feel a lot more free, a lot lighter and more able to just be true to my own Self. These would definitely be positive changes in my life.

It seems as if this Saturn retrograde comes at a good time for me, which I am happy about. I wouldn't mind setting down this limitation against joy and celebration so I will definitely be willing to do this work to achieve this. Another round of Shadow Work for sure but this one, I'm looking forward to, whic seems a bit strange to say.

I hope this has inspired you to consider how retrogrades can affect you and your lives. If you'd like your own look at how this Saturn retrograde could impact your life, my diary and inbox are open.

Peace and love to all!!!!