Retrograde planets

tags: retrograde

This symbol is often used to indicate retrograde motion. A planet being in retrograde means that, to us here on Earth, it appears to be moving backwards. The opposite of retrograde motion (or Rx for short) is direct motion.

Of course, the planets are not really going backwards. It is an optical illusion. Take Mercury retrograde for example. He travels around the Sun faster than we do, and every 4 months, he passes us in his orbit. We here on earth witness Mercury appearing to go backwards for three weeks.

When you were a kid, did you ever go on long car trips, lie in the back seat and stick your feet out the window? If you pass a big car or truck passed you, it looks to you like it’s going backwards. Retrograde motion is a lot like that.

What does it mean?

Each planet in your natal chart represents the way in which you use a certain energy. For example, Mercury is the mind, your ideas, mental energy. Venus in your chart describes what you value and how you reach out to others in love.

When a planet in your chart is retrograde, you experience the energy of the planet in a more subjective, internal way. Thus your experience and expression of the planet’s energy is very unique to you. There is also a link to the past, or a concern with the past. Some karmic astrologers believe that retrograde planets indicate a link to a past life.

With Venus retrograde in your natal chart, your concept of beauty is different, comes from a different place, than those around you. With Mercury retrograde, your thinking is different. With Jupiter, planet of philosophy, your ethics, morality and religion may differ from your family’s.

Retrogrades and karma

Do these differences come from a past life? Maybe. Some astrologers think so.

If so, is it a punishment? No. It can be a great gift. But, an astrologer who does not understand karma might choose to interpret difficult things in your chart as some form of punishment. We make God in our image, rather than the other way around. Karma does not judge or punish. Those actions stem from human emotions!

Your chart shows your life’s lessons: those you have already learned and integrated, and those you’re still working on. It could be that you brought over the past life energy shown by the retrograde, to assist you in your soul growth in this lifetime.

The most important thing in karmic astrology is to use your chart as a map showing the way to inner peace and happiness, rather than to validate a negative view of yourself.

Notes on retrogrades

Usually the planetary energies flow outward “in the pursuit of” the various energies represented by the planets. But with retrograde planets the energies are turned back inward on the person & no longer is the fulfillment of this planetary pursuit to be found “out there” but within ourselves, contrary to what we may observe in others having the same planets direct.

With retrograde planets you have a great opportunity to gain a better understanding of the areas signified by the retrogrades & at the level indicated by their signs.

The retrograde effects usually register on the plane of activity that is represented by the element that contains the retrograde planet. If it’s an earth sign, the physical plane. Air, intelligence, mental activity. Water, emotions. Fire, passion, ideals & motivation.

Most important: When the retrograde planet is angular, or in the same sign as the sun, or if the retrograde planet is already in high focus or the ruler of the chart: It can dominate the personality.

The retrograde will affect most noticeably the house containing the retrograde planet. It will also have an effect on the house it rules, & on the houses containing planets that aspect the retrograde planet.

While retrograde planets do not deny, they do delay events in our lives. People with many retrograde planets in their chart have to “go the long way” to find their path. People with zero retrograde planets tend to be the ones who decide what they are going to “be” in childhood, and actually do it.

The Sun & Moon never turn retrograde. The Moon’s Nodes (mean) are always retrograde. The true Node is usually retrograde, but occasionally direct.

Retrogrades by planet

Retrograde Mercury: These people absorb thoughts & ideals through osmosis rather than careful, deliberate study. Own best teacher. Tendency to question what others accept as gospel. More capable of dealing with abstractions & impressions than those with Mercury direct.

Retrograde Venus: has unique ideas regarding pleasure, beauty & love, & less concern for the social amenities. They tend to put those they love to the acid test: “If I do x & y, will you still love me?” Can lead to some form of antisocial behavior. They may seek unconventional women.

Retrograde Mars: Work in its more conventional, mundane sense can be very painful for these people. Work best when it has some sort of “cause” associated with it. Less competitive than usual Mars energy— often in competition with themselves. Mars retrograde women are often attracted to men who are dependent, irresponsible, handicapped in some way, or social misfits.

Outer planets are retrograde roughly five months of the year. Thus they’re often found retrograde in a birth chart.

Retrograde Jupiter: These people are capable of taking advantage of opportunities that others ignore or pass by. They prefer to “take another crack” at things others have tried & failed. Their moral & ethical code, religion & philosophy are their own. They seek answers from within rather than subscribing to the standard dogma. They seek abundance in new, untried & unproved areas.

Retrograde Saturn: These people nearly always grave doubts about their worthiness as human beings. Can be very childlike in their behavior & fearful of taking chances. This is an ego-reducing kind of situation. There is usually a subconscious fear of rejection & of loss. Their limitations & responsibilities are self-imposed. This is probably the most difficult retrograde.

Retrograde Uranus: Here is a natural born rebel. Strong reformer instincts — for everybody else. These folks have a strong inner need & desire to persistently test their personal abilities against those of others. They must constantly prove themselves to themselves. In seeking greater freedom for themselves, they may limit the freedom of others.

Retrograde Neptune: These people are frequently confused inwardly as to whether they are “virtuous” or not. Persistently seek to help others, whether their help is wanted or not. They are more susceptible & more easily taken in by others.

Retrograde Pluto: Nearly half the world’s population has this retrograde. Its effect is hard to determine except to say that these people generally have a harder time integrating themselves into the mainstream of society. When Pluto is very strong, these people find themselves doing things without understanding why.

Retrograde ruler of the rising sign: These people doubt their personal worth as individuals & are very concerned with their self-image. Late bloomers.

¹ Thanks to my teacher Lance Ferguson, his teacher Dona Shaw, and the many teachers before them who passed along much of the information in this article.

Comments:

1. I was wondering if you could give descriptions for retrograde asteroids/comets also. I mean Chiron , Ceres , Juno , Pallas , Vesta -- not just because I have them. (well I don't have Juno/Vesta)
   
   And my own chart should be where the http:// is
   
   — Mystic    4 August 2005    #
2. How do retrogrades affect North Nodes? Mine is in Libra in the 12th house in retro! Could you broaden its definition?
   
   — aeoni loni    14 September 2005    #
3. the Nodes are retrograde most of the time or all of the time, depending on whether you use the Mean measurement or True measurement. It's not a big deal.
   
   — Molly    15 September 2005    #
4. All 5 outer planets were retrograde in my chart, including my ruling planet Jupiter, which was at 0 degrees Libra, plus Saturn and Pluto in libra. Does that just suck for me or are there any benefits? With planets turning direct in a progressed chart, does this really help?
   
   — Sunshine    16 September 2005    #

5. This is the one of the most sensitive subject in the astrology.If planets become retrograde in progressive chart how to predict things.

   
   
   — girish m .v    21 November 2005    #

6. Hi.
   I hope this reaches you. I need help.
   Can you help me understand my Karma as bad as I sense some of it might be. I say that because while I had 24 aspects on the day I was born and 20 of those are really good-
   There are 4 that involve very heavy planets and not so great aspects.
   The worst I fear and have lived thus far is a Retrograde Saturn in the 12th house Opposing Pluto in the 6th.
   I know the basics as I’ve lived them:
   Enemies coming from nowhere-unprovoked
   Freak occurences of injuries and health issues eventhough I take very good care of myself and have always felt very healthy.
   Tremendous obstacles throughout my career, despite my talent and abilities.
   I have read that Saturn in the 12th Retrograde is the hardest.
   I was born 11/20/66 2:32 pm in New York.
   Can you be really blunt w/me and tell me if its really bad, if I’m in deep Karmic debt?
   Will I always be let down by all my endeavors.
   I feel my ego has already been diminished a lot.
   If you can respond and you do get this, please let me know.
   I can’t thank you enough if you do respond.
   Thanks

   
   
   — Beverly    15 May 2006    #

7. Hi Beverly—
   I never see karmic punishment going on. Saturn in the 12th is a difficult placement, but it’s all about learning. What does life want to teach you?

   The message you are asking for is very deep, and I’m afraid I am not willing to go into it here, in the comments. If you would like to book a session, please get in touch with me privately. I will be happy to interpret the whole chart for you. I might be able to help you let go of some of the fear and understand the deeper meanings in your chart.

   
   
   — Molly    16 May 2006    #

8. Beverly—are you still out there?

   Strangest thing this afternoon.. the place where I had lunch has a “free books” shelf. And on that shelf was a book about Saturn and reincarnation! By Jeanne Avery, an astrologer-therapist who does past life regressions. It’s way too synchronous, I figure I need to share the info with you.

   Please get in touch with me privately and I’ll get the relevant pages to you.

   Best,

   
   
   — Molly    16 May 2006    #

9. Reading your comments about retrogrades and thought I’d send you my birth data.
   Female born April 4, 1953 2:31 pm in Winnipeg, MB Canada. Youngest of 4 children.
   that gives me:
   26-27 Leo Rising, Sun in Aries 8th house cusp.
   Pluto at 20+Leo Retrograde. (12th house but rising)
   Venus Retrograde in Aries opposing (9th house)
   Saturn and Neptune both Retrograde in Libra (3rd house)
   south node 10 Leo / 12th house
   north node 10 Aquarius / 6 house

   had my first and only child when I was 43.
   feel as if finally, late in the day, life is beginning to smooth out a little.

   what else do you make of it?

   Thanks,

   Lenore

   
   
   — Lenore    20 May 2006    #

10. Good gracious. I just looked at my cousin Kat’s natal chart and she has 6 retrograde planets (not nodes/asteroids)...

    
    
    — Uncle Hannah S-Q    25 June 2006    #

11. Re: Retrograde Saturn

    “This is probably the most difficult retrograde.”

    Yikes! That’s pretty serious. Would you please provide some examples to support such a statement?

    Signed,
    Retrograde Saturn in Taurus 11th

    
    
    — Mel    26 June 2006    #

12. Hi Mel—that bit is from a handout I received in my first astrology class. I imagine the sentiment comes from the idea of the energy being inwardly directed. So retro Saturn would be self limiting and self critical, an internalized strict father figure. People with retro Saturn in difficult aspect to personal planets tend to have a hard time with boundaries. That is difficult, but not to worry. Many people have accomplished much and led happy lives even with Saturn retrograde.

    
    
    — Molly    27 June 2006    #

13. Yeah Mel! You can do it! I have Mercury, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus and Pluto retrograde(the most common one, I read?)

    :)

    
    
    — Hannah Slattery-Quintanilla    27 June 2006    #

14. Hello again Molly and others:

    I’m really appreciating all the information on your website and your interpretations. I have been studying Astrology off and on for over 30 years now! But that insecurity . . .

    I’m hoping that I am learning enough to grow beyond the limitations of my retrograde venus (latest degree – 28 Aries / 9th house) opp. retrograde Neptune & retrograde Saturn (third house) to love myself and be free to accept reality love.

    Having my son who is 9 and special needs has been the best gift of accepting and giving love and learning how to love.

    Coming up for surgery and may email you about that after the appointment to discuss dates on July 10. Or could I check with you before that? What sign(s) rules the gallbladder and the spleen?

    Lenore

    Thanks again Molly and everyone.

    
    
    — Lenore    27 June 2006    #

15. Hello Molly,

    I really enjoy discussing north nodes and the meanings in relation to a person’s chart. I find that some of the most meaningful relationships involve the north nodes. Probably U know this already.
    I pretty much understand the karma in my chart in relation to the nodes, planets, intecerptions of houses and such. I have like most people gifts and challenges.

    Just one question: When a person’s North node goes Direct and in a new house and sign does this mean anything. I have found progressions to be very predictable of events. Though, have not studied the effects of the north node changing signs or houses.
    Guess could go back and see when it changed signs and houses to see.

    Thanks

    
    
    — Mary    23 July 2006    #

16. Hi Mary—
    If you’re using secondary progressions, the Nodes move so slowly that they rarely change houses and signs. At most it’s once in a lifetime.

    I haven’t studied it, but I imagine you’ll get some interesting results! I encourage you to try it out!

    Having learned to read using the Mean Node, I don’t pay attention to the direction of the Nodes. I doubt it matters much. But if you think it may have merit, go ahead and try it out.

    
    
    — Molly    25 July 2006    #

17. If someone’s venus was in retrograde does that mean they had a bad past love life?

    And if someone has jupiter in retrograde does that mean they had really bad luck in a past life?

    And if someone’s mercury is in retrograde does that mean they were punished for things they said and did in the past life?

    
    
    — Alyson    26 July 2006    #

18. Alyson,

    No, I do not think retrogrades indicate punishment for bad things. Check out my article on retrogrades and karma for my take on it.

    
    
    — Molly    27 July 2006    #

19. Sat retro Tau in 7th. This lifetime I was carrying around a picture frame and was shopping for a husband to fit my frame.

    I “surrendered” to the love at first sight man who made me feel alive. I put the frame it in the garbage.

    My mind said, “No way! He doesn’t fit the frame! He’s all wrong! No security!

    Now, I have everything I ever wanted to feel complete, safe, and completely loved. “Perfect love?”

    Surrender, faith that God has a plan and a willingness to eat the candy when you want to may be some key to Retro quandry for someone other that just me.

    
    
    — Maya    29 July 2006    #

20. 08.24.1976 – no retrograde planets. what does it mean?

    
    
    — marian    5 January 2007    #

21. Hi Marian— usually a person with no retrogrades knows what they want to be when they grow up early on, and takes a more direct pathway to the goal. People with more retrogrades take a more meandering path.

    
    
    — Molly    5 January 2007    #

22. It seems thought that Mercury retrograde people aren’t good at learning the facts behind the facts, you know, to ask themselves ‘well, I get that this is the way this is done, but why?’ at least from my observances (both of my parents have this & they never seem to be able to do it). What do you think

    
    
    — Mike    29 January 2007    #

23. hello all u astrology worry worts astrology is not a dead cert guys theres a lot more going on we havnt touched on yet that go towards making our lives ..many undiscovered planets much undiscovered depths to the human race so beverly so worried abt saturn retrogarde etc stop all ur worrying and live girl for there is so much more to you that makes you then man will ever know or any astrologer

    
    
    — safea    2 February 2007    #

24. Is this normal? I am not worried or anything, I just wonder.

    Mars Libra in house 10 retrograde
    Jupiter Scorpio in house 12 retrograde
    Saturn Libra in house 11 retrograde
    Uranus Sagittarius in house 1 retrograde
    Neptune Sagittarius in house 2 retrograde
    Pluto Libra in house 11 retrograde
    True Node Cancer in house 8 retrograde

    
    
    — anca pop    26 February 2007    #

25. Hi, In my natal chart the retrograde saturn is in my 12th house. I am loosing on all fronts. Money that is due doesnot come. Profrssionally i am in free fall. Everyone I know is busy doing my character assasination, even those whom I have never seen or met participate.

    My Birthday is 28th May 1958 Time 22.35 Hrs

    Place: Mumbai (Bombay) India

    Please tell me when will these days be over.

    
    
    — Raju    4 March 2007    #

26. Mike, I have to disagree about the way you generalized Mercury retrograde. I have it, in Leo, Sun 7 degrees before it and Jupiter 5 degrees after (all three in Leo). I don’t know if there position has any importance, but I never take things for granted, as you say; I always dig deeper to find out “why”. And “why?” was the question that drove insane my teachers, my parents, and my husband. It still is actually… and I continue to ‘why’ about everything.

    So I don’t think that what you say has to do with Mercury retrograde, but maybe with a combination of aspects (?)...

    
    
    — I_Claw    19 March 2007    #

27. there=their; is=does
    sorry
    English is not my mother tongue and I make stupid mistakes sometimes.

    
    
    — I_Claw    19 March 2007    #

28. radhe krishna,
    1) how to interpret retrograde planets, retro in posited house or previous house because some astrologers believe retro means taking from previous house. and should we see the aspects of retro then how to judge retro aspectal to the aspected house.
    eg: sat® in 10 house for virgo lagna,jup in aqu,ketu in tau,moon in cancer ,rest all in scorpio.

    thanks

    
    
    — bhagi    15 December 2007    #

29. OK…. Here goes.

    I have just done the chart for an event. This event happened on my 19th birthday of July 26, 1995.

    It was a kiss that felt like electricity ran through my body. It is now 2008 and I am meeting with him again later today jan.31 2008. There is a long, yet stuck in a 24 hour period, history.

    The reason why I am posting is that all the outer planets were in retrograde at the time of the Kiss.

    All except the North Node. But then, all the asteroids were retrograde too on that side of the chart.

    What does this mean to why I Love him. (Which I didn’t realize until 2003)

    I keep on searching for an answer and the question is, do the planets line up and go retrograde for Karma?

    Is he my soul mate?

    
    
    — Debbie    31 January 2008    #

30. Debbie,

    I do not read kiss charts. I can’t tell from this chart whether you two have soulmate potential or not. I don’t think any astrologer can. It looks like a sweet moment, Moon conjunct Venus. But don’t read too much into it. A kiss is just a kiss. If you really want the scoop on your relationship, check out the synastry. Natal Moon to Moon, Mercury to Mercury, Venus to Venus. That’s where you’ll find what you’re looking for. Not a 12 year old kiss chart.

    
    
    — Molly    31 January 2008    #