Edited June 7, 2006

For the latest on the retrograde click here.

This article is an introduction to the astrological event called the retrograde. This is an overview of the phases and the mechanics of the retrograde, explaining what it is, the stages, and the effects it brings. Although it helps to have a working knowledge of astrology, those of you who are new to astrology will be able understand quite a bit.

The most common retrograde is the "Mercury retrograde", but the other planets go retrograde as well.

A quick definition of a retrograde

A retrograde (Rx) is the apparent backward movement in the sky of a planet. This is how it actually appears when you look up in the night sky over a few weeks or months. The planet looks like it's going backward.

The only planets that don't have a retrograde, or backward, motion are the Sun and the Moon, but they have special phases of their own called eclipses. The planets that go retrograde are Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. As we learn more about our galaxy, we have become aware that many other bodies go retrograde, but that is beyond the scope of this article.
 

How it affects your personally

Just as a planet is going over the area in the sky that it has already traversed when it goes retrograde, it is going over the same area in a natal chart and we must go over the events in our lives prior to the retrograde that relate to the planet. 

In general, a retrograde means doing things over, re-focus, and connecting to an inner level, or our intuitive side. We are often warned not to do anything new. It is a time to re-do, re-vise, and re-integrate the qualities of the planet that is retrograde.

If Mercury is Rx, we go over thoughts and communication; if it is Saturn, we look at the structures in our life; if it is Venus, we review relationships, and so on.

The meaning of the word retrograde

Conversations about retrogrades are getting to be as common as talk about Sun-signs, even if only in the context of the dreaded "Mercury Retrograde". Most people don't have a clue as to what this really means -- other than "don't sign papers or buy anything" in a Mercury retrograde! 

The word retrograde comes from the Latin "to drive back". The ancients thought the planets were gods who drove their chariots across the sky at night, and sometimes it looked as though they went back in the opposite direction. In mythology, they were always cruising around, fighting, creating havoc, but generally having a great time. Sorry to have to burst your bubble if you like the idea of gods racing around the night sky in their chariots of fire - there is no one up there in a chariot! Who knows -- maybe the ancients were right, science is coming up with some pretty far out theories, and someday they won't seem so far out.

Motion of a Retrograde

Backward Motion

When a planet goes retrograde, it may look like it's going backwards, but this isn't true, -- this is an optical illusion.

Think of a racetrack. The Earth is on the inside track, Mars and the other planets are on the outside track, and there is a big Sun sitting in the center. Since the Earth is on the inside track, it has a shorter distance to go around, and eventually it catches up to Mars, and passes it -- Mars looks as if it isn't going forward anymore. Mercury and Venus, closer to the Sun, and on an inside track compared to the Earth, have the retrograde motion, but from a different perspective. They are going faster than the Earth and catching up with us.

The retro motion is the "train syndrome". Do you ever remember sitting on a train when it suddenly started to move and the train next to you looked as if it was going backward? You probably got a little dizzy; this isn't a normal perception in our world. Now you know why retrogrades make you a little queasy and anxious. They aren't normal.

The Phases of a Retrograde
 

There are actually two phases - the retrograde and the shadow.

1. The retrograde

The retrograde phase is divided into stations, (when the planet stops), and backward movement.

·         There are two stations, the "station retrograde", and the "station direct".

·         The time in between the stations is the apparent backward movement in the sky. In an ephemeris, this is shown by fact that the degrees become lower in number

     2. The Shadow

·         The shadow phase has two parts, one is prior to the Rx, and the other is afterward when it passes over the point where the planet first went retrograde' the retrograde is finally over and things connected to the planet get back on track.

The phase that most people talk about is the one between the two retrograde stations, while the "shadow phase" is currently not as well know; it's a kind of sub-phase, before and after the Rx.

    Pay attention to the events in your life during the shadow phase preceding the retrograde. They gives you a hint of what will happen during the actual Rx. For a short time before the planets goes Rx, you'll notice that issues related to the planet are in your face. The shadow phase is a sort of warming up phase.

T   Three passes

While the retrograde planet contacts the beginning and ending degrees of the retrograde two times, planets may be contacted three times. This is what astrologers are referring to when the say a planet will make three passes.

     I'll use Saturn and the Moon as an example. Let's say you have the Moon at 25 Cancer, and Saturn is about to retrograde in the sign Cancer. Before it retrogrades, Saturn makes a conjunction to the Moon , passes it, and then goes retrograde a few weeks later. During the retrograde, it goes back to 25 degrees Cancer and conjuncts the Moon again. Several months later Saturn when Saturn is direct, it once again comes to 25 degrees Cancer and conjuncts the Moon for the third time. This is the third and last pass, and the last chance to iron out any Saturn/Moon difficulties.

Calculation

The length, phases and timing of a retrograde

Dates and Degrees using the 2005 Mars retrograde as an example.

Phases

1. First Shadow Phase

The first part of a retrograde is called the 'shadow phase'.

The shadow phase begins before the planet goes retrograde, when it contacts the degree where the retrograde finishes. This may seem confusing, let me explain.

Mars retrogrades October 1, 2005, at 23 degrees Taurus 22 minutes, and ends the Rx when it stations direct on December 9, at 8 Taurus 14 minutes.

8 Taurus 14 is the degree of the first shadow phase because Mars reached that degree before the Rx started.

Look up the date prior to the Mars retrograde October 1, 2005 in an ephemeris or astrological calendar to see when reaches Mars 8 Taurus 14. You'll find it was August 12, 2005, six weeks before the actual retrograde. This is the start of the shadow phase. The first shadow phase lasts about six weeks before the Mars Rx.

2. Next phase is the 'station retrograde'. This is the start of the retrograde phase.

Mars went retrograde on October 1, 2005 at 23 Taurus 22. This is the start of the retrograde phase. At this point Mars seems to sit for a few days before it starts to move again, but in a backward motion.

There is also an intense period of about two days just prior to the retrograde when the planet is slowing down and remain in the same degree and minute.

3. The Station Direct Phase- this is the end of the retrograde phase.

The is the completion of the retrograde phase on December 9, called the 'station direct'. This occurred at 8 Taurus 14. Mars will sit for a few days at 8 Taurus before it gains forward momentum.

Once again the planet remains at the same degree for about two days after the station direct.

4. Second Shadow Phase

Mars is moving forward and things seem to pick up, but some people notice that Mars activities are still abnormal. The reason for this is that we are once again in the "shadow phase". Look ahead in the ephemeris from December 9 to the date that Mars will reach 23 degrees 22. This will occur March 4, 2006. From December 9, 2005 until February 3, 2006 is the second "shadow phase", 57 days, or almost 8 weeks. The retrograde is finally over.

The entire retrograde cycle of Mars from shadow to shadow (August 2005 to February 2006), is 6 months, while the actual Rx is 2 1/2 months.

The length of time of a retrograde is different for each planet.

There are different ways to note a retrograde in an ephemeris or calendar.

Ephemeris

On the day a planet goes retrograde there will be a letter R between the degrees and minutes instead of a sign. Then you will notice that within a few days or week the degrees decrease in number. When the planet goes direct there will be a letter D between the degrees and minutes, and within a few days the degrees increase. Since the outer planets move very slowly, instead of degrees, the minutes will decrease or increase.

Calendars

In a calendar, on the day of the retrograde there will be the letters SR next to the planet. This means station retrograde. On the day the retrograde is over, there will be the letters SD next to the planet meaning station direct. (The planet is now going direct or in forward motion.)

Example of a Retrograde

A story about Mars retrograde

To illustrate the retrograde, I will use the planet Mars as an example. This explanation can be applied to the other planets as well, the only difference will be the events. Mercury affects communication; Venus affects relationships and money; Mars brings events such as fires and war; Jupiter affects religion, philosophy and foreigners; Saturn affects structure and authority and brings loss and delays; Uranus brings unexpected, rebellious events, Neptune brings disillusion and fantasy, as well as visions and mysticism, and Pluto brings destruction of those things that no longer serve us.

Go back in time to the middle ages. You are the court astrologer for a famous warrior king. You have noticed that the planet Mars has been acting odd; it has been slowing down and sort of hanging over the castle. In the past, this has always been a sign of war. You fear dire things are ahead, but the king is ill, confined to his bed, the second in charge is away, and you fear that the castle will soon be besieged. The slowing down of Mars, a warning phase, is the shadow phase.

You keep looking at the sky, and about six weeks later, you see that Mars has stopped moving. You and the inhabitants of the castle are like sitting ducks, no one has listened to you, and sure enough, there is an army of invaders outside the gates. When Mars stops in the sky this is the station retrograde.

A few days later Mars starts to move again, but in the other direction. The invaders now start moving toward the castle, and you feel helpless; you have to convince everyone to do the best they can to hold back the invaders, and you retreat further into the castle away from the invaders. This backward movement is called the retrograde.

Let's move ahead in time. The invaders have been trying to storm the castle for over two months. The King is now yelling and cursing, especially at you, saying he will chop off your head if things don't change. You keep telling him that the problems will soon be over. Once again you have noticed that Mars is slowing down, this is the signal that it'll soon go back to normal. Mars fulfilled its promise, everything was held back; the invaders weren't repelled, but they didn't get in, but now they have brought in a battering ram. The heat is on, and the battle is getting intense.

A few nights’ later you go up on the ramparts and notice that Mars has finally stopped; it's just sitting there. This is the station direct. The retrograde phase is over, the tables are about to turn. Sure enough, off in the far distance you see the allies of the king coming to rescue him, just in time. The invaders are rooted out, and your head is safe for now.

Now all there is to do is to clean up the mess, heal the wounded, speed the recovery of the king with new supplies and medicines, and repair the damage to the castle. This is the second shadow phase, and when this is over the success of military maneuvers will resume without struggle. That is the end of the retrograde and the war.

What to do during a retrograde


The periods between the retrograde and direct stations are a time that the energy is held back, so it is a time to re-do, re-vise, and re-think. For example, with Mercury Rx, it's a time to be internal, to do more inner thinking or revising. It's time to think about yourself and the manner in which you think about the issues life and how you talk about them. It's easy to blame others for what is going on in your life, that is called being external. Now it's time to see what these things say about you, that is called being internal. What we see in life is a mirror for who we are. Mercury Rx is also a time to rewrite, revise, and re-communicate with others. With a Mars Rx, you may notice that your energy is low, that it takes more effort to do new things, and effort and activity becomes a struggle.

Once the retrograde is over, you'll notice that these matters are easier and you have the desire to pursue new things, but you may not be quite up to par. This has to do with the shadow phase. Once the shadow phase has completed you'll be eager to go, and you'll find you want to do things in a slightly new way.

The best retro advice I can give you is, don't go out and start any new ventures involved with the planet until it's over and the energy begins moving again, which is a few days after the retrograde, but some people may have to wait until the shadow phase is over. It depends on your chart.

However, life goes on and we can't always avoid buying things, traveling, or making deals in a retrograde. It is possible that you are supposed to go through problems that are created in a retrograde to learn something. If you are open and willing to learn, the problems will be resolved. If the retrograde is not affecting your chart, a problem is not caused by the retrograde.

The shadow phenomena is the reason many people feel a retrograde way before it starts, and this is why those who are affected by shadows still have problems after the retrograde. Some people are affected even more by a retrograde if the planet is retrograde in their natal chart, but some have an easier time.

To determine how each retrograde will affect you consider what the planet symbolizes, where it's located in your chart and the aspects it makes both by transit, progression and in the natal chart. If the planet is making good aspects in your chart, you should have an easy time. If the aspects are difficult, be prepared and watch what you do.

What it all boils down to is that some people sail through a retrograde and others have a heck of a time; to figure it out get your chart done.

Physical and Psychological Meanings of Retrogrades for Each Planet

What each phase means on the physical and psychological level. You want to go over anything connected with the planet. For instance if you  have been writing a book, the retro is a good time to go over, revise, and  re-donotes, outlines, organization, and wording.

Mercury affects thinking, talking, writing, and any form of communication, communication equipment, and transportation such as cars and trains

Venus affects art, beauty, relationships and money

Mars affects action and energy, knives and guns

Jupiter affects justice, philosophy, religion, beliefs, expansion, overdoing, universities and churches

Saturn affects professions, authority figures, all types of structures, boundaries and buildings

Uranus affects independence, rebellion, science, and all sorts of breakthroughs

Neptune affects emotions, the oceans, drugs, escapism, and hospitals

Pluto affects large mass movements, death, sex, pollution and garbage, transformation

Glossary

Retrograde - the apparent backward motion of a planet

Station Retrograde - the start of the retrograde

Station Direct - the end of the retrograde

Shadow Phases - this is in two parts, one is before the start of the actual retrograde, and the second is a period of time after the retrograde.

Midpoint - There is another part of the retrograde phase called the midpoint, which is halfway through the retro. This period is very powerful, sometimes more powerful than the stations.

For a greater understanding of each planet click here