Inspired by Tamar Braxton's Heartbreak Retrograde: What Love Teaches Us When It Pulls Us Back

Tamar Braxton recently announced an EP titled Heartbreak Retrograde, and the phrase has resonated with many of us. Whether or not those words were intended as a personal diagnosis or if we are simply deeply triggered by any variation or spin of the word "retrograde," the idea of a “heartbreak retrograde” (a season when old wounds resurface so we can finally learn from them) feels universal. This piece uses that concept as a lens to explore the lessons love returns to teach us about healing, boundaries, and self-worth.

There’s a season that comes for every woman; when the past starts whispering again. Songs hit differently. Old memories replay like scenes you never finished watching. Emotions you thought were healed bubble back up, uninvited.

You’re not backsliding. You’re in "heartbreak retrograde."

Just like Mercury retrograde makes us revisit unfinished conversations and unlearn rushed decisions, "heartbreak retrograde" is the soul’s way of slowing us down; forcing us to face what still needs closure. It’s not here to punish you; it’s here to purify you.

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When the Heart Starts Spinning Backward

Heartbreak retrograde often begins quietly. Maybe you find yourself scrolling through old photos or missing someone who once made you feel seen or comfused why you miss someone who made you feel horrible. Maybe you start questioning if you’ve really moved on... from them, or from the version of you that loved them.

It’s not regression. It’s reclamation.

This is the universe’s way of saying, “Let’s go back... not to relive it, but to release it.” Because truthfully, sometimes the hardest part of heartbreak isn’t losing the person. It’s losing the part of yourself you silenced to keep their love.

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The Lessons Hidden in the Rewind

1. You Can’t Heal What You Won’t Acknowledge.

Pretending you’re over it doesn’t make it disappear. Sit with the ache. Name it. You survived it, but have you truly processed it?

2. You Deserved More Than Survival.

Maybe you’ve convinced yourself that making it through the breakup was enough, but thriving means demanding more than bare minimum love.

3. Closure Doesn’t Always Come From Them.

Sometimes heartbreak retrograde comes because your spirit wants YOU to be the one to close the door; with compassion, not bitterness.

4. You’re Not Meant to Go Back. You’re Meant to Evolve.

Retrograde energy can tempt you to text that ex or entertain the “what ifs.” But evolution asks, “What have I learned?” not “What can I redo?”

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Moving Forward, Softer This Time

You don’t need to apologize for your sensitivity. The woman who feels deeply is also the woman who heals deeply. This time, let your healing be intentional.

Rest. Reflect. Rewrite your story.

And most importantly, remember: "heartbreak retrograde" ends when the lesson clicks... when you finally choose peace over patterns.

You are not going backward. You are just orbiting closer to who you truly are... wiser, softer, and far more in tune with what your heart deserves.

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For Every Woman Reading This

If you’re in a heartbreak retrograde, breathe. You are not broken. You are being guided back to yourself. The pain you feel now is simply your heart syncing back to alignment.

Let this be your reminder:

Not every return means reconciliation.

Sometimes, it means release.

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When you think of it like this, does it make you proud of Tamar for introducing us to a phrase that gives us a place to reflect and grow? Kudos to you Tamar for doing the internal work! Stream/download her project here.