It’s officially July’s retrograde season, as the outer planets—Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto—all begin shifting into reverse. To be honest, this isn’t a rare occurrence. These slow-moving planets turn retrograde annually for four to five months. But there is something special catching astrologers’ attention in 2025. For the first time since the early 1700s, Saturn and Neptune are teamed up in fiery, trailblazing Aries. And that’s not all—both planets will spend the summer portion of their retrograde in Aries, then slip back into Pisces this fall.
Saturn and Neptune are the ultimate odd couple. Stern, structured Saturn is the boundary-hound of the solar system. Like a taskmaster, it keeps us running on time, sticking to a rigid schedule. This is also the planet associated with adulting. Your Saturn return, which happens around age 29, is an astrological rite of passage that’s all about maturing into your grown-up self.
Spiritual Neptune, on the other hand, is fluid and esoteric. As the planet of illusions and the subconscious, Neptune’s sense of time is a lot like Salvador Dalí’s clock melting away. Neptune helps you get into a meditative flow state, where your grasp on reality is slippery.
So how can you turn this cosmic duet into some personal magic? By putting structure (Saturn) behind your dreams (Neptune). While these planets are retrograde, we have a chance to roll up our sleeves and do the behind-the-scenes work. Neptune’s U-turn began in Aries on July 4 and slips back through Pisces from October 22 to December 10. Saturn turns retrograde in Aries on July 13, then retreats through Pisces from September 1 to November 27.
Aries, the first sign of the zodiac, portends new beginnings. Pisces, the very last sign of the zodiac, is all about endings and transitions. Planets in Aries push for progress, but Pisces planets pull us into the fog, making it hard to see what’s ahead. Combative Aries can whip up war, aggression, and domineering behavior. Compassionate Pisces can create victimization, mirages, and sacrifice.
Yes, this will make for more confusion in 2025. (As if we haven’t had enough already!) So go easy on yourself if you’re feeling a bit lost at sea. There are so many important causes to support, yet time feels like it’s moving so fast. We aren’t sure whether to fight (Aries) or take flight (Pisces). Feelings of overwhelm may periodically come over us until next February when Saturn and Neptune reunite, post-retrograde, for longer cycles in Aries. (Neptune from Jan. 26, 2026, to March 23, 2039, and Saturn from Feb. 13, 2026, to April 12, 2028.)
There are plenty of other options besides throwing our hands up in collective frustration until 2026. But we have to accept that, astrologically, we could feel suspended between two worlds, forced to sit through a period of deep uncertainty.
On a personal level, anything we can do to stay grounded is wise. Dream big, but build your scaffolding. Make your vision board—then draft the spreadsheet. Meditate, but also set deadlines. This is the sweet spot where magic becomes material, and your wildest ideas get a place to land.
Every retrograde brings a reminder that we can’t rush the process. Sometimes the universe needs us to pause, reflect, and recalibrate. Maybe you’re not lost—you’re just rerouting toward something truer. And when the pieces fall into place (and they will), you’ll know exactly how to anchor your dreams in the real world.
Don’t miss the moment! Saturn and Neptune only meet up in the zodiac roughly every 36 years. The last time was 1989, the year the iconic Taylor Swift was born. Like the Sagittarius mogul, we can work the very different gears of empathic Neptune and business-minded Saturn to achieve our biggest goals.
