None of the planets actually moves backward. The ancients, though, proposed some amazing mechanisms to explain why some of the planets appear to move backward through the heavens! In reality, the planets only appear to do that because of the complex relationship between the speed of the Earth's orbit and that of the other planets. At certain points in the Earth's orbit – from our vantage point – other planets appear to move backward.
That's what astrologers mean when they say a planet is retrograde. It just means that the planet appears to be moving backward – and that a particular relationship between the planet and the Earth is active.
So what's it mean?
I've read some pretty crazy interpretations of retrograde planets. I've had many astrologers read my chart, and when they look at four retrograde planets (for me: Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto), I get some wild ideas back. Most of them focus on retrograde planets signifying a particularly strong or heavy 'karmic link' to a previous life. Whether that's true or not, it's never been very helpful to me to know – because it doesn't help me live my life today. The other interpretation – that I'm not able to get things done – isn't true!
It turns out that the outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto) – all past the orbit of Mars – can spend almost half the year being retrograde. It's not at all uncommon to have three or four of these planets retrograde.
So what's it mean to have a planet retrograde in a chart? And what's it mean when a planet turns retrograde today?
One of my earliest astrologer teachers had it right. A retrograde planet 'does things differently'. For me, the planet's energies turn from being directed out into the world back toward the self, so the focus is back into the interior life. A retrograde planet operates within us, through inner directions, visions, inspirations, and meditative states. Some psychologists might view retrograde energy as being a bit introverted – inner directed. Introverted energy just means that the energy comes up in inner experiences, and that the energy can flag when forced to work in the outside world. A planet that's moving forward – we say the planet is direct – has a more extroverted energy: it's active in affairs in the world, and may be less involved in interior, psychological states.
So a retrograde planet is devoted to the inner life, and a direct planet is focused on the outer world. And that interpretation suits me fine, because it's true for me. I am strongly inner-directed, following my own path.
Let's see how this works for the individual planets:
Mercury: More folks want to know about Mercury being retrograde than about any other planet. It's a convenient scapegoat. Poor Mercury retrograde gets blamed for bad planning, mental fumbles, bad negotiations, and sketchy communication. Often the problem isn't with Mercury; it with our own lack of preparation!
Mercury retrograde does mean we think a bit differently than usual. Mercury retrograde means our thinking processes are focused on interior states and concerns, rather than being focused on the outside world and the constantly shifting affairs whirling around us. So it's probably right that Mercury retrograde gets some of the blame for our missteps. The real issue, though, is that we're not using the time wisely. Mercury retrograde is a period when it's most fruitful to think about the inner life and about inner concerns. It's a great time for meditation, to consider life plans and goals, and to plot long-term strategies. It's not particularly great to execute those strategies, though. Trying to make stuff work in the outer world isn't the right approach.
The same thing's true when communicating with others. Straight verbal communication – everyday stuff – may be tougher with Mercury retrograde. The benefit is for us to communicate in other ways: learn the subtle language of intuitive knowing of others. Explore nonverbal communication in spiritual ways.
The real lesson – and benefit – of Mercury retrograde is to give us a chance to slow down our monkey mind that usually flies in a thousand directions at once. Your monkey mind won't work quite right during Mercury retrograde, and that's the way it should be. If you take time to go within, to relax, and to let go the need to analyze everything precisely, the lesson of intuitive, inner knowing and life-long goals and direction can emerge.
Venus: Venus is the planet that's least often retrograde, so Venus retrograde is a special and significant time. Venus wants to connect with others through relationship, and to connect to beauty through art, music, and the aesthetic. When she's retrograde, Venus pulls back that desire for inner connection and reorients the focus on developing a love relationship internally, with the core self.
Meditation, mystical reading, taking time to explore art – particularly alone – is key. This isn't the time to press forward finding tons of new people to connect with; it's the time to move inward to find yourself to connect to! Experiencing the beautiful in solitude, in relaxed, quiet settings, is a wonderful way to claim Venus's retrograde energy.
Mars: Mars is the quintessential energy planet, directed outward in quests to achieve and to conquer. So Mars retrograde is a very different energy than normal.
Let's apply our principle: retrograde means directing the energy within. So Mars retrograde wants to focus inwardly to make real changes. This extra push can help us change habits we want to modify. Think of the real work in the Asian martial arts traditions: the real work is done subtly, inwardly, by developing refined, inner strength through quiet practice, diligent practice, inner development. So Mars retrograde can help us over the hump of making changes in our outer world – by first addressing our inner world. Once we bring our inner world into correct alignment, the outer world transforms magically.
Mars retrograde isn't the time to wage external campaigns and to engage in conflict. Rather, use the same power to eradicate inner forces that pull you off track.
Jupiter: As with all the outer planets, Jupiter is retrograde a fair amount of the time – so it's not that remarkable. Jupiter expands our life and grants genuine satisfaction and success. Jupiter retrograde still affords that satisfaction, but it's not focused on getting outer stuff and being successful in the world. Jupiter retrograde can give us a real gift: appreciation for all the goodness that we have.
As with the other planets, Jupiter retrograde focuses on going within. Here, we expand our life by going within, by being satisfied with the wonderful things that we already have, by being grateful. The expansion that happens is an expansion of our inner world, our inner goodness and strength. Jupiter is wisdom, too, and we can gain access to inspiration and guidance right now.
Saturn: As with all the outer planets, Saturn is retrograde a fair amount of the time. Saturn wants us to define things, to crystallize our work and our energies, to be practical, to be responsible. Saturn retrograde turns those energies within. The focus isn't on being responsible to others in the world, but to be responsible to ourselves and to our highest calling. Saturn retrograde can be a great time to define our own inner values, to clarify our life direction, and to get down to business on changing our inner life so that the outer world can become what we truly want. It's about becoming authentic to ourselves.
Uranus: Uranus can be retrograde half of the year, so it's not very important most of the time. Uranus is where our breakthroughs come. He's the energy of revolution and change – and of inspiration and innovation. When Uranus is retrograde, that inspiration and push for change turns within. Our wellspring of ideas is within us, and now's the time to access it through inner play.
Neptune: Neptune can be retrograde half of the year, so it's not very important. Neptune is our link to the spiritual life. When Neptune's retrograde, it's time to go within for spiritual revitalization. Meditation and inner work – even divination – can be wonderfully beneficial right now.
Pluto: Pluto can be retrograde for half of the year, so it's not very important. Pluto is transformation, and his influence can often be hidden in power plays and control games that we play with each other. When retrograde, the energy for transformation turns within. Rather than finding out how to engage in political games with others, Pluto retrograde reminds us that the most important conquest is of our own desires that can drag us down and away from our highest calling.
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