Retrograde Planet Guide
Retrograde planets are planets that appear to physically move backward in the sky at the time of birth in a natal horoscope. It is only illusion as the planets only appear to move backwards in the sky from a point seen on earth. They do not physically move it is only optical illusion. During the Retrograde the planets are as close to the Earth as they ever are during their orbit.
Planets in retrograde motion symbolize karma. Retrograde symbolizes an internalization of the planet’s energy, thus making us consider their energies more. The planets energy becomes a part of our consciousness through Retrograde in a birth-chart. For this reason planets in retrograde effect people at a great level.
Mercury is already apart of our conscious and it’s nature is internalized by nature. As Mercury rules the lower mind and communication it is a part of a persons conscious nature. Retrograde still effects it, but not as deeply as the other celestial bodies. It is a different story from the other planets as there effects are greater.
The deeper influence of Retrograde planets are felt from Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Why is this you may wonder. The simple answer is because all of these planets are planets that don’t represent an integration into our conscious thinking naturally.
Sun, Moon and Mercury together are all naturally part of a persons singular consciousness in this lifetime. Mercury and Moon represent thinking of the lower and higher mind, and the sun is the other part of a persons conscious. Only Mercury can be retrograde in the normal consciousness because Sun and Moon cannot be retrograde in a birth chart.
Below is the list of planets and each of there Retrograde symbolic meaning.
Now what the planetary retrograde means by planet.
Thinking may have a non-linear and differing quality then other peoples. The thinking can be more insightful. The mind goes over experiences more. Learning is different and information is processed through subconscious thinking patterns as opposed to conscious thinking patterns.
Doubts may center around learning, and this person can struggle with communicating their thoughts. This can be from a reduced sense of confidence in the validity of their ideas. Communicative reactive skills may be slower, as the mind needs to process incoming information different then others. Sometimes the mind works so differently people may believe this person possesses a learning or speech disorder due to their offbeat mind and communication style.
Due to abstract thinking partners these individuals have a tendency to be their own best teachers. They ask lots of questions and have trouble accepting things at face value. Mercury retrograde learns at a different pace then others due to their different thinking process. Mercury here works best expressing itself through the hands by doing music, drawing, or painting instead of verbal communication.
Mercury Retrograde karma centers around a past life where the person could of relied to much on others for teaching. They may not of asked enough questions to enhance their learning. They may of communicated things out of context and now are to learn to “think twice.” about what they communicate.
Venus in retrograde people may appear deeper then the standard Venus sign. They may be more introverted then then a normal Venus can be. Socializing isn’t superficial and relationships are very important and taken very serious. They don’t make social contacts just to be social, their relationships have purpose.
These individuals may have troubles communicating love or being affectionate in expression. Can ask a lot of questions around love. May wonder a lot about commitment and loyalty. Struggles can center around a reduced sense of self worth believing they are good enough in love. Can come from thinking themselves into despair regarding being worth love. Self esteem of the person suffers in many cases.
Life may be seen and measured in terms of value of love. They may be wrapped up so much in the fear around losing love they don’t put themselves out there. Forming the bond of a relationship can be problematic due to their self sabotage tendencies within thinking. Opening themselves up to believing relationships are good for them despite their fears can be troublesome especially in early years.
Overindulgence in eating (food is a luxury seen from Taurus after all) can be a problem with Venus retrograde. They may emotionally eat to make up for the lack of human companionship due to holding themselves back. Loneliness may be a problem due to their troubles communicating their desire or affections for another.
The Karma of Venus in retrograde centers around past lifetimes where relationships and love may of been misunderstood, neglected, or troublesome. The current lifetime tends to carry on pain from the previous life love endeavors.
Mars likes to fight by nature but internalized retrograde Mars needs to sort out whats its fighting for. Needs to seek and internal purpose that they think is worthwhile. More times then not they relive actions they have lived in their lifetime in their head. This person can work hard and more efficiently when given a second chance at retribution for their mistakes. This individual can be one that works so hard at retribution they forgo taking care of their vital needs.
Not accomplishing goals can cause over-reactions as a result of the the internalization of their shortcomings. Sexual side can be more internalized and their lovers may feel they are selfish.
Karma for Mars retrograde can center around reliving actions already lived in prior lives. There may of be a desire to attach to people that represent something from a previous life. This may also mean recreating situations by living somewhere or doing tasks again in this life that can from a previous one.
There can be a perpetual feeling of living past lives, and coming back to accomplish missed deeds in a prior form. Shortcomings and failures may subconsciously be relived with a desire to to relive the past life in this lifetime.
Since retrogrades rule internalization, Jupiter retrograde symbolizes internal expansion of the person. Morality, ethics, and philosophies come from their own internal thinking. Others may think their belief systems, morals and philosophies are not of the norm. They may struggle with higher education and be prone to being self educated more.
This retrograde offers an avenue for a higher spiritual nature in life. They may be inclined to compile their own idea of religions. This can be done by picking over infusing pieces from their own morality and other religions they are inspired by into a pseudo-religion that makes sense more to them. Luck may not come so easy to them, so they think more about what they can do in the moment to make good things come to them.
The karma of Jupiter Retrograde may come from blindly following other philosophies, religions and morals in a previous life without consider your their own personal values with them. They may of also taken on education others recommended for them, failing to follow their own interests in a prior life.
Fear and self doubt can rule their life. These people can possess a conservative approach in life. They fear losing and fear rejection; causing them to not want to take chances. They can feel stuck between a rock and a hard place. Limitations are brought on by their own doing.
Saturn in Retrograde can produce a person who fears letting people down. The odd twist of fate is that they really let themselves down. Following strict guidelines can be very different for Retrograde Saturn. These people may feel nervous about fulfilling expectations others have of them.
Karma says that Saturn retrograde indicates that there was trouble fulfilling oneself in a previous lifetime, and it is to be relived in the current one. Some with Saturn in Retrograde feel like they have more weight upon their shoulders then others. Besides the fear of not pleasing others, they may subconsciously feel failing in this lifetime from the souls remembrance of failure in a prior life. Failure in this lifetime is a state of mind they create for themselves by their own negative self image carried over from a prior life or soul experience.
The current lifetime can be about using the wisdom of hardship to their advantage. To realize that there is rewards for struggle, and retribution comes in the form of personal sacrifice. Reputation and acknowledgment can come only when Saturn in Retrograde realizes the only person holding themselves back really is themselves. Karma can be worked through but it’s up to them.
Internally their can be a great unrest centered around familiarity. Instead of showcasing their originality to the world as an Aquarius would they can feel inclined to internalize what makes them original and unique. Outside to the world they may seem like conformists, but consciously in there head it’s another story. This can stem from a childhood that may be symbolized a lack of self expression and individuality allowed.
Internalizing originality gives a belief that others cannot take freedom from them. A great struggle can exist in contradiction. A feeling where this person may have to do one thing to conform, but really there is desire to be their original selves. Embracing being a free spirit is something inside themselves they have aspirations, hopes and wishes for. Yet the Retrograde gives them struggles in bringing it out.
People with Uranus retrograde may struggle and feel lonely because of this position. Due to struggles expressing their individuality there can exist troubles being apart of social groups. Struggles with assimilating with network groups, or gaining a following on networks due to internalizing their individuality that makes them unique and different is most likely.
The Karma of Uranus retrograde can center around previous lifetimes where they expressed to much rebellious or individual behavior and didn’t consider their impact.
Neptune in retrograde can create a more hazy, confused and distorted perception. Common sense may be a struggle as the physical world does not come easy to them. Internally they challenge the idea of their compassionate nature. While they may be more consciously aware of the spiritual side of life they be more apt to keep private.
Since Neptune is water and contains psychic ability, Retrograde here may indicate a more psychic nature in the person. This is because retrograde forces the outer planets energy to be absorbed into the conscious more. This makes a person recognize Neptune’s intuitive and psychic ability and be more apt and develop it. They are more likely to put it to use. The dreamy side of Neptune can be internalized as well, leading them to keep their dreams to themselves.
Karma dictates then in this life Neptune is retrograde to give the person a sense of the purpose of dreams. Not just to act on dreams, but consider their validity in the real world. The dream world and physical world can feel separate to them, making them feel they exist on two different levels. Karma also shows here that person may of had psychic ability but failed to develop it in a prior lifetime.
Retrograde Pluto can make Pluto’s energy more consciously a part of the internal world of the person. There can be inner intensity in their consciousness, along with thoughts that they either love something or hate it. Internally there thoughts may be very extreme in nature. Yet to the outside world they keep them hidden.
There can exist deep intuitive and psychic powers here since they are seen from Pluto. They can be more a part of the persons living consciousness and not even realize their abilities are of a psychic nature. Internally they may suffer with fears. They can fear being controlled and manipulated.
This individual can struggle showing their power in the real world. This leads them to having the door open to being manipulated by others. They internalize the desire to have control of others and consider it’s value. Yet coming out with it in the real world is reconsidered as the use of their power is now conscious a part of themselves. They consider the effects of their actions more internally. These individuals may stop to consider how their actions help anyone.
Pluto in retrogrades karma centers around transformation. In previous lifetimes the person may of had much power but failed to utilize it to transform others in a positive way. Now they have a second chance in this incarnation to help stress the positive side of Pluto energy. This is to use it to heal humanity instead of destroy or hurt others.
