As Professional Astrologers it is perhaps that we understand the cycles but should never underestimate that we know it all I have been researching for 50 years and still wondering and challenged about the total context of meanings given to Astrology and that part science plays in this.
The adage is every day is a school day here on Earth!
Astronomically, retrogrades happen as Earth is passing or being passed by other planets. Like the apparent movement of the sun through the zodiac, a planet seemingly moving backward is an illusion, as planets always revolve around the sun in the same direction. The appearance of retrograde motion occurs because of the relative difference in speed. It’s something like when you’re sitting at a stop light and the car next to you takes off unexpectedly—you may find yourself stomping down on the brakes because of a temporary feeling of moving backward. Similarly, it’s when planets are at their closest approach to Earth that apparent retrograde motion occurs. In short, retrograde motion is an illusory side-effect of planetary proximity.
Retrograde Meaning in Astrology
Astrologically, when we try to understand the meaning of a planet moving backward, for instance Mercury regularly retrogrades 3 times a year. Mercury as it’s the most recognized and bastardized by negative interpretations is more to give us time to redo revisit rethink our environment and challenge our communication to more observant.
Most of the time, planets move in forward motion on, or relatively parallel to, the ecliptic, which we can think of as the main highway. Perhaps it’s more appropriate to think of them as seekers or explorers who travel the celestial byways in search of something not available on the main highway.
Personal planets Venus, Mercury, and Mars all come closer to Earth than the sun, penetrating the interior heart space of our system. These retrogrades are more extreme in the distance the planet moves away from the ecliptic, which makes their loop shapes more exaggerated. Interpreting the retrogrades of Venus, Mercury, and Mars could be the most challenging, and perhaps requiring adjustments but that is what retrogrades do to get us to look at life experience differently.
Jupiter and Saturn go retrograde more frequently, about a third of the time, and their loops shapes are more flattened and less extreme. So, we can interpret these retrogrades as being somewhat less personal, less challenging overall, and requiring smaller adjustments. The outer planets are retrograde about 40% of the time, so most people have at least one of them retrograde.
Retrograde Effects
Retrograde motion is different than the norm, it’s not a surprise that many people could find it as disruptive and challenging. The question, then, is whether disruption is in and of itself a good or bad.
I am aware for instance by clients that Mercury retrogrades for some works very well in their charts giving them wonderful insights. It seems that getting off the beaten track could be experienced as less disruptive when we know it’s coming and plan for it by building in some wiggle room. It also seems that relaxing our expectations, taking less for granted, and being more observant are all beneficial practices when planets are retrograde in the birth charts through slower observations likened to looking through the lens or down the rabbit hole perhaps no others will take. i.e. changing perspective around retrogrades gives another view to possible opportunities we have missed which can be transformative
Retrograde Planets in the Birth Chart
Retrogrades in the birth chart could signify a person who needs to deviate from the norm from time to time. Most people have two or three planets retrograde in their chart. With Mercury, Venus, or Mars retrograde, there may be a focus or accent on the inner life, or a person may have a tendency to perceive things very subjectively regarding the affairs of that planet. With Jupiter and Saturn retrograde, a person may feel out of step with the dominant culture or an intense desire to effect change in society.
The outer planets are more generational and retrograde may signify cross-cultural forces in one’s life which cause them to feel somewhat out of touch with life people places perhaps needing to be different in their approach less conventional.
More than three planets retrograde is relatively rare and signifies a person who may be largely out of step or driven to make a large impact to the world around them bringing about change to society —and strongly devoted to finding their own unique path in life.
Fiery Mars retrogrades in the regal Sign of Leo December 6th, 2024, to Feb 25th 2025. On the world stage we see the fiery energy of Mars Retro in action around countries of the Middle east regime ISTANBUL — President Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s autocratic ruler and royal family, was ousted Sunday after a quarter century in oppressive cruel power, toppled after an Islamist rebel offensive that hurtled through Syrian cities and towns, and finally Damascus, the capital and once-feared seat of Assad’s power, which fell with little sign of a fight.
South Korea governments changing the human element rising up to push for change. South Korea’s President is set to face a second impeachment vote after his short-lived attempt to impose martial law on the country brought thousands of protesters onto the street.
President Yoon Suk Yeol survived his first impeachment vote yesterday after his right-wing People Power Party (PPP) boycotted the vote. But this has done little to quiet down calls from the opposition for Yoon to step down.
Rumblings if discord have been happening with the French government collapsed after Prime Minister Michel Barnier was ousted in a no-confidence vote. It marks the first time the country’s government has collapsed in a no-confidence vote since 1962.
Retrograde Mars period is one to watch for sure as it has inflamed already brewing situations and is bringing them to a head on the world stage.
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