When a planet is in retrograde motion, it means that, from the Earth, that planet appears to be rotating backward. Astrologically speaking, each planet has different impacts on our energy and our planet in general, and these impacts are amplified by retrograde motion.

If one single planet being in retrograde can already have an effect... five, FIVE planets have been in retrograde for the past month or so.

Yeah, it's a lot.

The moon, the Sun, Venus, Mercury, Mars, and Venus are known as the inner planets, and these tend to affect your everyday life and your mood.

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto (never forget) are the outer planets, affecting the bigger life trends that you experience, in some cases even shaping whole generations.

Each planet is associated with a zodiac sign, and people with each zodiac sign show traits of their respective planet. Here is a more specific layout of which signs match with which planets, and what parts of your life each planet impacts:

Aries --> Mars --> your drive and energy

Taurus --> Venus --> love and attraction

Gemini --> Mercury --> mind and communication

Cancer --> Moon --> moods and emotions

Leo --> Sun --> personality

Virgo --> Mercury --> mind and communication

Libra --> Venus --> love and attraction

Scorpio --> Pluto --> power and transformation

Sagittarius --> Jupiter --> luck, growth, and wisdom

Capricorn --> Saturn --> discipline, fears, and challenges

Aquarius --> Uranus --> change and originality

Pisces --> Neptune --> dreams and healing

That being said, here are some ways retrograde could be affecting you, based on the powers of the planets involved:

- Consistent, vivid dreams

- Strange experiences

- More hardships than usual

- Mood fluctuations

- Increased motivation

- Personal growth

Evidently, these planets being in retrograde simultaneously can have cause all kinds of changes, not all of them positive, but not all of them negative, either. If you have been dealing with some wild ups and/or downs, you can take comfort in knowing that it's not just you, and there is, in fact, a reason why it's happening.

All over social media recently, I've been reading posts upon posts of people complaining about ceaseless, very vivid dreams that they are experiencing every night. I, too, have been experiencing this, and it's great if you remember the dreams in the morning and want a good story to tell, but not so great if those dreams aren't exactly the most relaxing, and you end up waking with a start at 3 am before going about your day still jumpy from whatever your brain conjured up.

Even further, on top of so many planets being in retrograde altogether, it is also Cancer season in the world of the zodiac. Great! A second helping of emotional turmoil, anybody?

The Cancer zodiac sign is known for being passionate, loving, and nurturing... but also moody and strong-willed, and are willing to use manipulation to get their way.

Generally speaking, Cancer season could be causing you to feel moodier than is typical, or just more emotional in one way or another. Maybe you're crying a lot, or feeling obnoxiously nostalgic. Maybe you're just easily frustrated and feeling irritable most of the time. Whatever the case may be, blame it on cancer season. Not only could it make you feel better about your emotions, but hey, may as well take it as a get-out-of-jail-free card if your mood swings are getting you into some trouble.

For even more information about what Cancer season might mean for your zodiac sign specifically, this is a great source with a lot of helpful information.

All things considered, you're going through a bit of a strange time, don't freak. It's just Cancer season. Oh and, you know, five whole planets are in retrograde. It's fine. Everything's fine.

Help.