When you have a retrograde planet in your natal chart, it means that at the moment of your birth, that particular planet was moving backward through the sky. This is not because the planets actually reverse their motion from time to time (they don’t). It’s simply an optical illusion. When Earth and another planet are traveling around the Sun at different speeds and in different orbits one can pass over or under the other, which causes them to appear to be traveling backward across the sky for a period of time.
Retrogrades don’t occur all that frequently—and when they do, they’re typically brief. Some planets rarely go into retrograde (Mercury goes into retrograde three times per year at most). Others spend months at a time moving backwards through each sign (Pluto spends half its year retrograde!). When you have any kind of retrograde action happening in your chart, it’s considered important and will always be interpreted by astrologers along with all other factors present in your personal horoscope.
Mercury Retrograde
Mercury is a planet that rules communication, learning and short trips. When Mercury goes retrograde, it appears to be moving backwards in the sky from our vantage point on Earth. Mercury Retrograde periods occur three times a year for about three weeks at a time.
Venus Retrograde
Venus Retrograde occurs roughly every 18 months and lasts for 40 days, so it’s not a common occurrence. Venus is the planet of love, pleasure, beauty, art and luxury. When Venus is retrograde, you can expect to revisit issues related to these topics. It’s a good time to reassess your look and style. If you’ve been wanting to change your hair colour or try out a new aesthetic but haven’t been quite sure if it was right for you, now would be an excellent time to give it a shot!
If you’re single during Venus Retrograde then this is probably not the best time of year to obsess over finding “the one.” You’re more likely to meet someone who isn’t right for you right now than who is. However, it can be a great time for singles who are open-minded because there may be people that they wouldn’t normally date with whom they hit it off during this period.
Mars Retrograde
Mars retrograde can cause you to feel frustrated, trapped and unable to take action.
It can also make you feel like your needs are not being met. Mars will be retrograde in your sign from September 9th – November 14th, 2018.
Jupiter Retrograde
A retrograde planet in the birth chart suggests a more inward experience of whatever the planet represents.
For example, Jupiter is about growth and expansion. If you have Jupiter retrograde, it suggests that you tend to think a lot about your beliefs, learn from inside yourself more than from being an extrovert, and are generally more comfortable with contemplation than action.
Jupiter also symbolizes luck and good fortune. A person with a retrograde Jupiter might feel they don’t get much of a break in life or may be just not very lucky. This can lead you to question your beliefs and expand your mind through deep introspection rather than by traveling or studying abroad as would typically be associated with Jupiter.
Saturn Retrograde
Saturn retrograde gives you a chance to slow down, take stock of your life and consider the following questions:
- What are my life goals?
- What do I value most in life?
- How can I balance my needs with my responsibilities?
These are all questions Saturn asks us to examine. When this planet is retrograde, we get a chance to really focus on them. It’s not that these things aren’t important outside of this transit—but it’s a great time for self-reflection.
Uranus Retrograde
Uranus is the planet of rebellion, invention and innovation. It brings about unexpected events that can change your life in an instant. If you have Uranus Retrograde in your birth chart, you are likely to be perceived as unique or eccentric by others. When Uranus is retrograde it may also stimulate your need to rebel against the status quo.
During a Uranus retrograde cycle, you are more likely to feel rebellious, experimental and inclined to break from tradition. You may find yourself acting out of character during this time period and making changes that seem somewhat untraditional given the circumstances or people in your life at the time. This can be a good thing if these changes reflect your inner truth, but it can also bring about some upsetting situations if you do not listen to your true needs.
Pluto Retrograde
Pluto retrograde in the natal chart often indicates a desire to transform. This can include transforming others, or even oneself, although it is more likely to indicate a desire to change other people for the greater good, rather than a genuine desire to transform oneself because of genuine internal self-reflection.
The idea of being influenced by other people or “changed” by their beliefs can be quite scary for Pluto retrograde people. Such individuals tend to want to be in control and may fear being exposed as “flawed” or falling from power if they show any kind of weakness.
This often means that Pluto retrograde individuals will try to hide any weaknesses and may use tactics such as intimidation and manipulation in order to maintain control. They may also resort to physical violence when necessary.
The meaning and importance of retrograde planets in the birth chart
A retrograde planet is one that moves backward in its orbit around the sun; because it appears to have moved backwards in its relation to other planets, it seems to act more slowly. This can cause great problems for the occupants of earth, who are affected by retrograde planets whether they know it or not. Because the retrograde planets are hidden from view, many people think they’re nothing but background noise until they start doing something out of the ordinary—like bringing home a husband or wife who’s been hiding in a corner office all day at work.
Retrograde planets aren’t always bad. In fact, retrograde Mercury often shows up as a boon for relationships and communication with other people, so if you want help getting your adorable nephews into college or your lawyer into their first job, don’t be surprised when this happens. (Mercury turns direct on January 2nd.) But don’t be too quick to call those positive planetary alignments good news—retrogrades bring about plenty of bad things too. They can bring illness and injury when you least expect it and line up as part of an unlucky star configuration not even worth mentioning here. And then there’s the danger that you might end up being someone else’s husband or wife once your own turns retrograde—just look at that annoying boss again!