What is a Retrograde Motion of the Planets
In short, the planets never actually move backwards. Planetary retrograde is an optical illusion. That is, retrograde is a phenomenon that we observe — it only appears that way to us. It only seems as though the planet is moving backwards from our perspective on Earth.
This means that the most important thing we can do during this period is to work on our PERCEPTION OF THE PAST to reassess what we have already achieved or failed to achieve. It is a time to “dip into the past” for a while and draw conclusions so that we can move forward more effectively later.
During the retrograde loop, the planet appears somewhat unsure, as if it doubted it was heading in the right direction. The same thing happens with people. We begin to question the validity of our beliefs, our methods for solving problems, and our values and priorities. We start to revise them and create new ones. At this time, events may occur that encourage a shift in our usual approach to life, worldview, or relationships (depending on the sphere governed by the planet). And vice versa, our changing perception influences our decisions and, consequently, the situations we find ourselves in.
What’s important to know about retrograde planets
A retrograde planet can turn your whole life upside down, or it can open up wonderful opportunities for development, if you understand exactly what to pay attention to during its retrograde. What is important to know?
- What are the characteristics of the different stages of a retrograde loop
- When does it occur
- What does the retrograde planet represent in its essence
- What does it rule in your natal chart (birth horoscope)
- What points and areas of the personal horoscope does it touch on its retrograde path
If for the last two points it is necessary to create an individual horoscope (independently or with the help of an astrologer), the first three I will try to reveal below.
Retrograde loop
Planetary shifts do not happen suddenly. A planet moves forward, then slows down, stops, turns back, then slows down again, stops and moves forward. This whole period is called a retrograde loop. And each stage of the loop is characterized by something different.
Stage 1: When the planet is still moving forward, but is already slowing down before turning around
This is a preparation for a change of views, priorities, and usual methods of solving problems. Events may occur during this period that you’ll need to revisit later.
Stage 2: When a planet is retrograde
This is when the usual models stop working, so you have to:
- act outside the box
- spend more time/effort on routine matters
- repeat the same steps several times
- retrace your steps
Decisions made now may not align with true needs, and may be regretted later when the needs take on a new form. This is not the time to start or acquire something new in the area of planetary control (see the descriptions below to find out what each planet rules).
It makes sense to look for solutions to long-standing problems, as the absence of your usual way of seeing things can help you find a new solution to an old issue. After all, in order for something new to come, you need to create space — an emptiness ready to be filled. It’s a good time for reviewing and working through past mistakes.
Stage 3. When the planet moves directly back to the point where it once turned
New patterns and beliefs are developed and solidified, and it becomes easier to identify mistakes made during the passing planetary loop. At this stage, situations that arose during the previous stages of the loop may be resolved, or, if they are long-term projects, the problem will finally take its shape, and it will become clear how to solve it. Thus, it is important to track not only the retrograde periods of planets, but also the entry and exit periods from the entire retrograde loop.
Read more: How planets knit loops.
Specifics of each planetary retrograde
The most noticeable and significant retrograde periods for us are those of Mercury, Venus, and Mars, as these are personal planets that are directly related to our daily lives. Moreover, they move relatively quickly, and during their retrograde periods, they manage to affect various points in the individual horoscopes of a large number of people.
Mercury retrograde
Mercury is the natural ruler of the following areas:
- all types and means of communication, interaction, transmission, reception, and processing of information;
- any activity related to the word (literature, journalism, publishing, advertising, sales, learning and teaching);
- contracts and negotiations, transactions, exchanges, buying and selling, commercial and intermediary activities;
- all types of equipment — office, household, electronic, computing;
- transportation — of all kinds; the very process of transportation, travel, route, schedule;
- organization and coordination; planning, analysis, logic.
During Mercury retrograde, all of these areas can be stressful and demand extra attention: appliances break down, plans get derailed, letters get lost… Sometimes life seems to descend into complete chaos. BUT: when things don’t go according to plan, you don’t have to change your goals, perhaps you should change your plan.
And this is the main mission of Mercury retrograde: TO FIND THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO ORGANIZE LIFE. Everything that happens at this time repeatedly, brings us back to the past in some way and requires some kind of reworking.
Mercury Retrograde: What to do?
Venus retrograde
Venus is the natural ruler of such spheres:
- love, relationships;
- material prosperity, comfort, financial relationships;
- luxury goods, stylish items, gourmet food, jewelry, cosmetics;
- beauty, tastes, preferences, style, aesthetics;
- sense of justice, harmony;
- all activities related to beauty and art (from artist to plastic surgeon).
During Venus retrograde, we begin to see the world a little differently. What once was beautiful, tasty, or pleasant may no longer seem so, and new preferences may appear in food, in decorating the house and oneself, in understanding how to build relationships. Since this is a time of reevaluation and rethinking in all of these areas, it’s not the best moment for drastic changes in appearance, design projects, renovations, or starting new relationships. However, it’s common during Venus retrograde for old acquaintances to resurface, past connections to reappear, and familiar habits or tastes to return.
And this is the main purpose of Venus retrograde: TO RESTORE HARMONY. This is a perfect time for tuning into your own feelings, reviewing and reflecting on current relationships and your role within them, and for stepping out of your comfort zone in order to gain a new understanding of what truly feels harmonious and comfortable for you.
Mars retrograde
Mars is the natural ruler of the following areas:
- the process of creation, building — action itself, initiative, activity;
- strength, energy, passion, courage, aggression;
- focus, determination;
- Sports (training, equipment, competition);
- weapons, military actions and activities;
- surgery;
- danger and crime;
- everything sharp (both knives and spices), hot (both passion and vodka), fast (both cars and runners);
- machinery, tools, equipment.
During Mars retrograde, power and energy are not directed in the usual direction — outward, forward, and toward goals — but either in the wrong direction or inward. Obstacles and delays often arise, actions prove ineffective, and the natural response to all this mess is anger, denial, and trying to force one’s position. However, aggressive behavior is actually the least effective at this time. It’s important now to allow situations to unfold at their own pace, to catch the energy flow and follow it. It makes sense to return to unfinished projects, to reconsider one’s usual ways of acting, and in general to engage in any actions related to the past and to the development of inner strength.
And that’s the main mission of Mars retrograde: GAINING INNER STRENGTH.
Mars retrograde: peaceful warrior.
Social and outer planets
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto are outer planets that move slowly – some of them very slowly. Here are their orbital periods:
- Jupiter: 12 years
- Saturn: 29.5 years
- Uranus: 84 years
- Neptune: 165 years
- Pluto: 248 years
Some of them spend almost half of their time in a retrograde state. All of them are mostly connected with social and global processes (reforms, revolutions, turmoil, mass movements, economic crises, state decisions, cataclysms, etc.). Undoubtedly, they have a direct relation to people’s destiny, but in this case, the general background that accompanies their retrograde is not as important as the hit of the looping planet on the sensitive points of the horoscope. Therefore, when studying these periods, it is important, first of all, to pay attention to the degrees of the Zodiac in which the loop occurs. These periods can last for more than one year.
Retrograde planets at birth
If you were born in a planet’s retrograde period, it means that in your natal chart this planet is retrograde from the beginning. This is an interesting position, as the planet does not express itself in the usual way. However, not only the retrograde motion but also the planet’s position relative to the Sun plays a crucial role in determining how exactly its influence manifests in a unique way. In addition, people with a retrograde planet in their natal chart can use the current retrograde periods much more successfully and effectively, because in some ways this is a situation they are already familiar with from birth.
I wish you success in passing through the loops! After all, we all need such periods — for pausing, rethinking, and returning to ourselves.
Calendar Archive 2015 – 2023