Retrograde Meanings ..

Those born with retrograde planets are said to be (relaxing an expression) in this life that was used (excessively) in another life. For example, sexual psychoanalyst and secret military history buff, Sigmund Freud, was born with Mars retrograde opposite every other planet in the chart; perhaps in his last life he was a Casanova and a military leader, but in this life he studies other folks sexual and military passions, as though he were on holiday coaching others in a craft he was 'skillful' in before. The Sun and Moon never appear to go retrograde. Also, outer planet Rx's have a subtler effect-influence than inner Rx's .. It's also important to to remember that a retrograde (Rx) planet is closer to the heart, its energy more internalized.. Some astrologers agree, before outward expression can fully manifest, inner expression of the planet must first be realized, and sometimes exaggerated expression of a retrograde may occur to somehow compensate. (Of course planetary aspects retrogrades make will emphasise for better or worse any expression of the planet. Also when a Rx planet turns direct by progression, this can cause additional, and many times a positive change to the energies of the planet.)

Those born with Mars retrograde, like Freud, Rev. M. L. King Jr., Louisa May Alcott and Annie Oakley sublimated their passions and anger in spectacular ways by calling attention to global issues requiring immediate attention and effort. If Mars is retrograde in the natal chart asserting yourself vigorously and directly is complicated by the fact that you had a prior lifetime or lifetimes in which aggression was either misused (by you, or against you) and/or all personal initiative and self-will was insistently discouraged (perhaps due to a belief system that advocated passivity). In any case, the message that was impressed upon you was that forceful action is wrong or dangerous. Thus, if you stand up for yourself, you now tend to hesitate, back down or even be plagued with fears of retaliation. Aside from other important influential aspects, you generally usually see is a person who has some difficulty asserting themselves outwardly; they may have a lot of problems trying to find a direction. But...and this is a very important point...when they find something that is important to them....when they find a cause, that is really close to the heart...they can have a seemingly endless drive and passion towards this cause!

Until such a person finds what is really important to him or her, however, they can seem afraid of their own urges, and may even have other people fight their battles for them. Those who have not tapped this inner focus sometimes end up feeling that they are being used/abused by others. The typical Mars Rx person is not usually happy with mundane, ordinary work, but excels with (as you might imagine) work for a 'cause' of some kind. (again, much is dependent on Sign, House, and Aspects to Mars, further coloring the Rx ..)

An interesting aspect; Mars conjunct the Ascendant whether Rx or not is a person who has their passions and desires up front, so what you see is usually what you get with them. The retrograde Mars here, however, is going through a bit of a battle because the need to be upfront is in conflict with their inability to be in 'conscious control of their passions. Until, as stated, they find a cause or focus.

Those born with Mercury retrograde may be shy or slow to learn in their early life, but make up for it in later life. Like the child who stuttered in early life becoming an articulate TV newscaster later in life. There can be difficulty communicating thoughts & ideas by speech, but given the opportunity can make excellent writers. More serious speech/communication problems can be linked to retro Mercury, although not on its own, as indicated by other factors such as HARD ASPECTS to a prominent Mercury. There may also be a hesitence or lack of confidence in one's own mental abilities, thus becoming over-achievers or bombastic or overbearing in their opinions to compensate.

It's important to note when a natal retrograde Mercury turns direct by progression. This will depend (when) in the cycle the individual was born. Though Mercury will always be retrograde natally for these people, the age when it changes directon will show when the individual may undergo a metamorphosis in thinking and mental expression. There is usually an awakening and the individual becomes more confident. Lisp or stutters may disappear or later on the individual will go back to school to obtain a degree. (Of course planetary aspects Mercury makes are also very important.)

Folks born with a Venus retrograde are likely to turn their social and romantic sides inward in the early life, becoming more expressive and sexual later in life. Individuals can be somewhat shy in youth, as there can be an awkwardness felt concerning small talk and social graces. The feeling nature is deep for Venus Retrogrades. Socializing is taken seriously--rarely lightly. You have had a prior lifetime or lifetimes in which your love was unrequited or lost or somehow denied expression and fulfillment due to circumstances, and this both intensifies and complicates your personal affections in the present. You may feel there is "never enough" which can lead to greediness for friends or lovers, or even for money or food. On the other hand, you may withhold affection, be unable to attract true affection, or withhold commitment in love due to the shame or hurt you had. Oftentimes people find it challenging to openly say what they feel, to display their affection in a very effusive manner. There is a reevaluation and reliving of past emotional satisfactions. They feel they lack emotional fulfillment. A new feeling toward love and relationship can evolve as you learn to trust yourself and let intimacy into your life. Very important however, and before jumping into conclusions, it's important to see how Venus itself is aspected in the chart. Which is the House ruled by Venus Rx? The Ascendant? Then we might expect some shyness around the personality. Is it the 4th House? Then the scenario is totally different. Is it aspected by effusive Jupiter? Then the retrogradation might feel rather "light", since Jupiter tends to expand Venus. Is Venus aspected by Saturn? Then the retrogradation might translate into a very disciplined, almost austere way to show (if at all) emotions... In which sign is Venus? In proud Leo? In sensitive Pisces? In austere Capricorn? In sensual Taurus? This will colour the Venusian behaviour in many different ways. This is the beauty of Astrology. We can never say ?this? or ?that? will happen, we can anticipate behaviour, but this behaviour will depend on many, many nuances? (as it goes for all Rx planets.)

Retrograde Uranus - Here is a natural born rebel. Strong reformer instincts ? for everybody else. These folks have a strong inner need and 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 and more easily taken in by others.

Those born with Jupiter retrograde, make great travel agents who prefer to stay home; or great sports coaches who don't play the game; or managers and experts who somehow don't practice what they preach.

Those born with Saturn retrograde tend to be very successful administrators and career counselors, but they themselves don't know what they want to be when they grow up.

Pluto retrograde in the natal chart indicates the challenge of power, not so much getting power but deciding what to do with it, and how to teach others to use the powerful and sometimes destructive tools at their disposal without destroying themselves and others at the same time.

You're very welcome, DC .. 🙂 ..my pleasure

.. actually i have 4 Rx planets myself, Mars + 3 outer planets.

Hey Mystic, interesting that you posted this. Been doing some research myself lately on retrogrades in the natal chart. Specifically Saturn, as I have in mine.

I found an interesting article about this on a website so thought I'd post it.

Love and Saturn Retrograde - Understanding the anxiety and getting past the fear of intimacy:

We all have our share of intimacy fears that develop during our childhood and difficult early relationship experiences, but for most of us, our desire to be with another - to open our Self and share our inner being with someone - is much stronger than our fears. Because our inherent drive to be with someone is so powerful, we put ourselves out there and hope for the best. Through connecting with and interacting with others romantically, we get to know ourselves and learn about our own needs and desires when it comes to relating.

For a person with Saturn retrograde in the natal chart, intimacy fears are enormous. They may have an easy time connecting with others (depending on other factors in their chart) and could be very friendly and seemingly outgoing, but if you take a closer look you will soon realize that the Saturn retrograde person gets along fabulously with strangers or ?new' friends but tends to shut off - castrate - those who grow to love him or her or anyone who gets close enough to notice the fine cracks in the fa?ade the native presents to others. There is a very tender and vulnerable emotional infant lurking within the Saturn retrograde native?this may be a very small aspect of the soul, or it could be a huge part of the personality, but beneath the strongly contained ego that appears to have it all together, there is a child wanting to be loved for who he or she is? an infant wanting to be nurtured and cherished and most of all, understood and appreciated. The fear of not being good enough, not being what is expected, of being weak and vulnerable to others or worse, superseded or totally unneeded by anyone, drives the Soul with Saturn retrograde deeper and deeper into a cocoon of their own making?an isolated and lonely place to be, a stranger in the shadows watching others and wondering why he (or she) feels so horribly alone.

The Saturn retrograde individual is like a sponge that absorbs all of the energy around him (her) and intuitively knows what is going on and how to protect the self within that atmosphere?he may also take on the beliefs or thought patterns of others, especially in youth,

without even being aware that these beliefs aren't really his own but were absorbed from the family or society/culture he was raised in. There is a (karmic) distortion in the personality that allows the external world to permeate the Soul, rendering the Saturn retrograde native's early attempts at constructing boundaries ineffective. As the ego develops, it learns to construct higher and thicker emotional walls, extremely defensive barriers, and a reserve with others that says, ?Do NOT approach.? Of course those superficially involved with the native may not sense or feel any of this because the fears aren't activated until the Saturn retro individual grows closer or more involved with a person. Let him (or her) fall in Love and Bam?the fear floods in and the walls come up. The worries that the loved one will not love the ?true' self can be so strong that they distance themselves or sever the relationship in order to protect the loved one?and the Self.

Ironically, if they would move toward the lover, open to the lover, and find a way to let down the barriers, they would learn that their vulnerability is endearing and that by showing the real self, they could truly be loved for who they are, warts, wounds, and all. Yet once they finally do begin to open to another, the intensity of the awakening can be such that they must withdraw and protect themselves at all cost?this is especially true upon their first initiation into a karmic love relationship. This withdrawal and denial of love is heartbreaking for both partners involved?while the Saturn retro native's lover may suffer and feel bereft when the love is withdrawn, it may help the lover to realize that the pain is even greater for the Saturn retro individual. Why? Because their inability to cope with intimacy pushes them into isolation and their despair and loneliness cannot be easily assuaged. If the lover doesn't also have the Saturn retro, he or she will be able to move on and see the relationship as a major learning experience?the Saturn retro native may learn a lot about him or herself as well, but the misery that will accompany this learning could last for several years as they slowly come to realize that it was their own inability to love that has created the schism and pushed love away. Those with Saturn energy moving forward in the chart have Saturn (more or less, depending on the rest of the chart) at his best?he is happily creating structure and building up necessary strengths within th

the personality to shine out into the world. Those with Saturn energy turned inward (retrograde) are building structures within the Self to hide that light?they do not feel safe enough within the world to truly share of the Self?they swallow their ?children' (their creations) and keep them in the dark. To many Saturn retro natives, to share of the Self is to risk rejection?and to lose personal power or authority. Saturn, at his worst, is a greedy, fearful, selfish little boy who hogs all the cookies and won't share?he wants to use the cookies as a bargaining tool and thus keep all the others (the outside threats) in their place. If they do what the Saturn retro native desires, then he might - just might - offer a cookie as a reward. The Saturn retro individual may be very aware of this aspect of the self and yet be unwilling or unable to admit that the child inside needs to grow up and enter the adult world?the only way to grow up, however, to truly develop the Self and to learn about one's true needs and desires, is through relating.

The relationship with the Father has often played a crucial role in the formation of the strong outer ego shell and the soft, gooey baby that hides inside. The Saturn retro native may have not had a strong father figure in his or her life?the Father may have been absent (in physicality, mentally, or emotionally) and the retro native had to assume a strong protective role in the family?in essence, the Saturn retro individual may have had to father the self or others (siblings or even Mother). The longing for Father may have been made stronger simply because he was not available?or the child may have felt it was his or her fault that Father was not around. In some cases, the child may have blamed the Mother for the absent Father; if so, then trouble with both parents may have left the child not only fulfilling the role of Father but Mother too! The Saturn retro individual likely presented as very mature to outsiders in their teen and early adult years, which only led to more responsibility being heaped upon the seemingly strong shoulders. There wasn't much room for emotional development?no time for crying and whining, no time to waste on being a child. The praise for being such a strong boy (or girl) reaffirmed the native's path as an authority figure to others, one who could stand the heat and take charge when needed. Inside, however, inside the child cried out for attention and the Saturn retro individual told it to

shut up and get on with life. But the child remains inside, locked up?swallowed by the Saturn retrograde defensive energy and longing to be free, to be loved, to really grow and express the self. Coming face to face with a person who can penetrate the defenses could throw the native into a whole new world, one where the navigation equipment is broken and the ego structure begins to crumble in the light of real love. It isn't unusual to find a Saturn retro native who married very young only to find that their partner is not truly compatible or fulfilling for their Soul. They married because it was the socially acceptable thing to do, especially if they were having sex with the partner or if the lover expected that they would marry. This is another example of the Saturn retro individual being permeated and influenced by external sources. Eventually the individual will come face to face with a karmic lover or someone who really ?gets' them?who understands and accepts their vulnerability and true inner being?and this can happen whether they are married or not. Imagine the intensity of the meeting and the Soul longing of the Saturn retro individual when he (she) faces the one who could be the love of a lifetime only to find that he/she is shackled in a difficult marriage and yet, to do what society expects, he/she must remain with the spouse. To deny the lover and remain with the spouse, no matter how unsuitable, is another expression of how the Saturn retro energy turns inward and destroys (or prevents) the Soul from growing and evolving. By refusing to enter into a passionate love relationship that has the power to penetrate all the ego-defenses, the Saturn retro native denies his/her own Soul's needs.

To overcome the burdens of the Saturn retrograde in the natal chart means to enter into the inferno?to let the Self feel, to let another person in, to surrender. Let the child be born and make peace with him?let the world crumble. Once the fa?ade has been shattered, the Saturn retro native will realize that what was once feared is truly the path forward into the light?they will no longer desire to build inner defenses, they will instead work to turn the creative power held so tightly within out into the world?to shine the internal light and not hide it. The flames of passionate love may be the only power strong enough to crack the Saturn retro fa?ade?but if they are unaware of this heavy energy working in their lives, they may run from Love when it is u

upon them?they may continue to shut the child in the closet and to build a personality that will keep others out. Becoming more aware, especially of their childhood difficulties and either their idolization of the Father or their anger toward the parents in general and how it is still affecting their life, is perhaps the most important way to open themselves to others. Surrendering the defenses allows the Saturn retrograde individual to become a shining light of true authority instead of denying life, instead of denying their power to create, to form, and to shape their own world?

Hey Thetis! THANKS so much for the interesting add on to retrograde Saturn. Wow! that IS some awesome detail. Alot more valuable research & insight now for anyone who may have this planet retrograde. So thx again, GREAT posting!! s*

No problem Mystic, same goes to you - I always enjoy reading your posts! 🙂

SP1200 not sure what the connection is there but I have Venus in Aries and Jupiter in Taurus both in the 12 house.

DCVirgs the article was from www.throughnightsfire.com.

And choco hon go to www.astro.com input your data there go to any one of the free charts you can get and your info will be at the bottom of the page. Next to each planetary placement will either be a D (direct) or an R (retrograde). 🙂

Thanks for the info & article, sp1200, i never quite looked at the 12th house & Rx's from that angle. Very interesting, i'll have to give this some more thought! =)

Hi, chocolate.. To find out if you have any Retrograde planets (Rx) , you can check out these charting sites; for the first one, just hover or click the planetary (glyph) symbols over your natal chart after you input your data. If you see a backwards R listed, that planet was retrograde at the time of your birth. (Your planets will be in either retrograde or direct motion.) Hope this helps! 🙂

http://www.astrotheme.fr/en/offres_ascendant.php
http://www.astro.com/cgi/atxgen.cgi?btyp=apx&

You're welcome chocolate ..s*

according to astro.com I have six retrograde planets in my chart: Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto....however, I've checked in the past and Venus was also retrograde when I was born.....they missed that one....so that makes a total of 7...scary.....

How do you know if one of your planets was in retrograde?

Nevermind, I figured it out. 🙂

(A few more points on Retrogrades & Karma)

Okay, so do these differences come from a past life? Maybe. Some astrologers think so, and believe that retrograde planets indicate a link to a past life. 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.

Thus, your own experience and expression of the planet's energy is very unique to you. Again, as some astrologers believe there is a link to the past, or a concern with the past.

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.

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.

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. (continued..)

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

Important: 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.

Saturn (karmic) -to delay, slow-down Neptune -inner contemplation, confusion Uranus -unique, different modes of expression.

(My own theory as i've read more & more, is that retrograde planets are, in many ways quite similar to being "in aspect" with these very same three planets (above) and curiously does echo sp1200's post about Rx's planets inside the 12th house.)

In case i never mentioned, the Moon's Nodes (mean) are always retrograde. The true Node (north-bottom node) is usually retrograde, but occasionally direct. So, thankfully there are no real effects or concerns pertaining to Nodes.

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

Pluto: Nearly half the world's population has this retrograde.

ahhhh, 🙂

"Not anymore i am on a mission in my life!!!"

i hear you too, chocolate, that's the spirit.. 😉