Retrograde Planets
Almost every second person has one or two retrograde planets in his horoscope and most people are interested in what retrograde planets may signify in their horoscopes.
Some astrologers believe that if a planet is retrograde in a horoscope, it means that such planet is working malefic for the native. They believe that as a retrograde planet moves backward, it is supposed to give malefic results since backwards may be considered negative by some people. Some astrologers have modified this theory, and they believe that a planet moving in retrograde motion reverses its basic functional nature in a horoscope. This means that if a planet is supposed to work positively in a horoscope according to the relevant factors which decide the working nature of a planet in a horoscope, it will work negatively if it goes retrograde. In the same way, if a planet is supposed to work negatively in a horoscope according to the relevant factors that decide the working nature of a planet in a horoscope, it will work positively if it goes retrograde.
Some astrologers believe that if a planet goes retrograde in its sign of exaltation, it works negatively and if a planet goes retrograde in its sign of debilitation, it works positively. Some astrologers believe that a retrograde planet is not at all different from a forward moving planet because there is no such concept as a retrograde planet in astrology. These astrologers believe that the planets move in forward motion all the time and they never go retrograde in actual practice. They believe that planets only seem to move backwards whereas they don’t do so in reality. Hence it is not necessary to pay attention to a planet if it goes retrograde.
Let’s first look at some notions related to retrograde planets. A retrograde planet may not change its functional nature in a horoscope. Hence if a benefic planet goes retrograde in a horoscope, it may still show benefic results. Likewise, if a malefic planet goes retrograde in a horoscope, it may still show malefic results. The placement of a retrograde planet in its sign of exaltation or debilitation may not make any changes to its functional nature in a horoscope; though these placements may change the strength of such retrograde planet.
Let’s see what may happen when a planet goes retrograde. A retrograde planet may not be the same as a forward moving planet and it may give somewhat different results. Let’s see how various planets may behave when they go retrograde.
Retrograde Jupiter:
Retrograde Jupiter may signify changes related to knowledge and wisdom. Hence some natives with retrograde Jupiter may be interested more than usual in pursuit of knowledge whereas some other natives may be interested less than usual in pursuit of knowledge. Retrograde Jupiter may also affect the ability to share or spread knowledge and wisdom. Hence some natives with retrograde Jupiter may be interested more than usual in sharing their knowledge with others as well as in preaching others whereas some other natives with retrograde Jupiter may be interested less than usual in sharing their knowledge with others as well as in preaching others. Which way a particular native may go with retrograde Jupiter in his horoscope is decided by his overall horoscope. Apart from these, retrograde Jupiter may create some other fine changes, depending on the overall horoscope under consideration.
Retrograde Venus:
Retrograde Venus in a horoscope may signify a change in the element of diplomacy, which is one of the major characteristics exhibited by Venus. Hence some natives with retrograde Venus may be more diplomatic than usual whereas some other natives may be less diplomatic than usual. Retrograde Venus may also affect how the native indulges in pleasures of senses. Hence some natives with retrograde Venus may be more indulgent in pleasures than usual whereas some other natives may be less indulgent in pleasures than usual. Which way a particular native may go with retrograde Venus in his horoscope is decided by his overall horoscope. Apart from these, retrograde Venus may create some other fine changes, depending on the overall horoscope under consideration.
Retrograde Mars:
Retrograde Mars may signify changes related to energy and aggression. Hence some natives with retrograde Mars may feel more energetic as well as aggressive than usual whereas some other natives may feel less energetic as well as aggressive than usual. Retrograde Mars may also affect the sex drive of natives under its influence. Hence some natives with retrograde Mars may feel more sexually active than usual whereas some other natives may feel less sexually active than usual. Which way a particular native may go with retrograde Mars in his horoscope is decided by his overall horoscope. Apart from these, retrograde Mars may create some other fine changes, depending on the overall horoscope under consideration.
Retrograde Mercury:
Retrograde Mercury may signify changes related to speech abilities and communication skills among other things. Natives with retrograde Mercury may be more than usual introvert or extrovert. It means some of them may be more expressive than usual whereas some of them may speak or express less than usual. Retrograde Mercury may also affect the decision making ability. Hence some natives with retrograde Mercury may wait less than usual before taking decisions whereas some others may wait longer than usual to take decisions. Which way a particular native may go with retrograde Mercury in his horoscope is decided by his overall horoscope. Apart from these, retrograde Mercury may create some other fine changes, depending on the overall horoscope under consideration.
Retrograde Saturn:
Retrograde Saturn may signify changes related to patience and administrative skills. Compared to natives having forward moving Saturn, some natives with retrograde Saturn may be more patient than usual whereas some other natives may be less patient than usual. Some natives with retrograde Saturn may have better than usual administrative skills whereas some other natives may have weaker than usual administrative skills, depending on their overall horoscopes and finer factors.
The term ‘finer factors’ means the placements of Saturn in various signs, nakshatras and navamshas. Due to such changes in its style of operation, retrograde Saturn may produce results, which may be different than those given by forward moving Saturn.
Himanshu Shangari