These 4 Retrogrades Will Make Thanksgiving Travel Especially Chaotic This Year
Here's your cosmic GPS to holiday travel, according to astrologer Lisa Stardust
Thanksgiving will be a little bit more chaotic this year due to the astrology happening on Nov. 28.
This year, four planets retrograde in the sky: Mercury, Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune. Mars is in its pre-shadow phase and ready to turn red and start its planetary back stride on Dec. 6, so it’s contributing to the drama, too.
All of these intense celestial movements will significantly impact travel during the holiday. Unforeseen issues will happen along the way, which often does since retrogrades are times when unexpected circumstances happen.
Luckily, I’m here to astrologically advise you on overcoming the craziness and mayhem. Think of me as your cosmic Google Maps.
Mercury Retrograde Is the Main Culprit for Delays
The astrological highlight of this Thanksgiving is Mercury retrograde. Unfortunately, the planet of communication, travel and technology is buzzing backward from Nov. 25 to Dec. 15 in the sign of Sagittarius. When this happens, it creates challenges on Earth.
The transit will affect the trips we take during the holidays. For instance, the Mercury moonwalk could disengage our GPS systems, giving us the wrong routes or not updating correctly, causing us to be late for our plans. A flight may take off later than expected or be held on the tarmac once it lands. We could oversleep due to an alarm clock not going off on time.
With all these problems in our way, it’ll be hard to get ahead of the game; organization and a positive attitude are essential. Don’t stress over things you can't control; go with the flow. After all, holidays are joyful, and we shouldn't let things like being late to dinner stand in the way of having a great time with family and friends.
Jupiter Retrograde Heightens Frustrations
The planet Jupiter usually adds optimism and joy to our attitudes and pep in our steps, allowing us to have wanderlust sentiments and explore new horizons. However, Jupiter is moonwalking in the sign of Gemini (the retrograde began on Oct. 9 and ends on Feb. 4, 2025), causing us to lose control of our chill demeanor.
As a result, frustrations might escalate while we are on our way to visit others. It will be hard for us to motivate, especially since we will be overthinking and overstressing the events that will commence when we unite with our brood. Also, it means that the lines at the airport security checkpoints will be long since TSA might be looking through carry-on bags closely with a toothcomb.
Uranus Retrograde Takes Us Off the Beaten Path
Rebellious Uranus is retrograde in Taurus from Sept. 1 to Jan. 30, 2025; due to the innovative planet always wanting to take an unconventional venture towards greatness, we might be inspired to take an off route that could benefit us in dealing with traffic concerns. Words of advice: Please ensure that it isn't too off the beaten path in case problems occur (and they might be due to all the other current planets back siding in various signs).
If you feel comfortable with the directions and adventuring off the grid, do so as long as a phone or GPS signal is available. Also, bring snacks because you might want a nibble and won’t want to stop. Uranus retrograde in Taurus has a strong appetite for organic foods like vegetables and fruits. This will help you not become hungry (angry from hunger).
Neptune Retrograde Instills Faith in Our Journey
Neptune has been moving backward since July 2 and will continue until Dec. 7 in Pisces is adding emotion to the day. Neptune's backstroke is igniting our hearts. We’ll believe that a higher power will help us travel safely and without a hitch. The caveat is that we might be dragged back down to earth when we encounter obstacles in our journey.
The lesson here is not to give up faith and to continue venturing through. No storm can hold us back from celebrating the holiday. Carry on with care and certainty because the universe is protecting us.
Mars’ Pre-Shadow Causes Us to Internalize Our Feelings
Mars, the planet of action, turns retrograde from Dec. 6 to Feb. 23, 2025, in the signs of Leo and Cancer. When Mars is in its pre-shadow phase, which will be during Thanksgiving, we internalize matters that are bothering us. We might snap at others, even though we don't mean to, because we are dealing with other problems at the same time, and need to let the sentiments out.
Take a breath when you start to feel like yelling to ensure you don't bark at those you care about. Beyond our emotions, it'll slow everything down — including traffic on the highways.
Oh, Did We Mention a New Moon Is Coming, Too?
The new moon in Sagittarius occurs late at night on Nov. 30 PT, and early in the morning on Dec. 1 ET. New moons are a time of fresh starts and are usually considered suspicious. The caveat is that all of these retrograde planets will change the vibe of the lunation. We could be ungrateful or unhappy with the early holiday presents we receive, which is why it's best to keep receipts and know that returns or exchanges are possible.
When it comes to travel, the new moon will spark irritability because we’ll be exhausted from the previous days. Make sure to have movies downloaded on your tablet, a good book to read, a solid playlist ready to go, and a neck pillow to cozy up with. All these items will help create a better mindset and experience for us all. Try to avoid taking your annoyances out by honking loudly. That just creates noise. Think of funny moments from the week and laugh off your irritations by discussing them. Any release of tension is amazing — try to embrace the Sagittarius energy by having some amusement.
