Retrograde Planets

Almost every second person is having one or more Retrograde planets in his horoscope and most of the people are interested to know as to what can a retrograde planet signify in their horoscope. Many theories and views have been given by different astrologers about retrograde planets. Due to these theories a number of misconceptions regarding the retrograde planets have taken birth and the common man interested in Astrology is still not able to understand as to what may be the meaning of a retrograde planet in his horoscope. Let's try to look at some of the theories regarding retrograde planets and analyze them.

First of all there are some astrologers who believe and preach that if a planet is retrograde in a horoscope, it would mean that the planet is working negative for the native providing the logic that as the retrograde planet moves backward or in an opposite direction, so it is supposed to give negative or opposite results and the native having a retrograde planet in his horoscope must be careful with the negative results. A number of astrologers have modified this theory and they believe and preach that a retrograde planet will reverse its basic functional nature in a horoscope, which means that if the planet is supposed to work positively in a horoscope according to all other factors deciding the nature of a planet in a horoscope, it will work negatively if it becomes retrograde. And in the same way if a planet is supposed to work negatively in a horoscope according to all other factors deciding the nature of a planet in a horoscope, it will work positively if it becomes retrograde. To further filter this theory, there are some astrologers who believe that if a planet becomes retrograde in its sign of exaltation, it works negatively and if a planet becomes retrograde in its sign of debilitation, it works positively for the native. And then there are some astrologers who state that a retrograde planet is not at all different from a straight planet because there is no such concept as a retrograde planet in astrology. These astrologers believe and preach that the planets are only moving in a forward motion all the time and they never go retrograde in actual practice and so it is not necessary to pay any attention to a planet just because of the fact that it is showing retrograde in a horoscope. And there may be a couple of more theories about retrograde planets which may associate different results with them. But which one of the above mentioned theories holds good for predicting a retrograde planet. Let's try to understand the concept and analyze the results given by retrograde planets.

A retrograde planet is never the same as a straight planet and it always indicates something different about the results given by the retrograde planet. But first thing to notice and remember is that in most of the cases, the retrograde planet does not mean a change in its functional nature for a native Which means that if a positive planet goes retrograde in a horoscope, it will still show positive results and if a negative planet goes retrograde in a horoscope, it will still show negative results. And also the placement of a retrograde planet in its sign of exaltation or debilitation does not make any difference in its functional nature and only changes the strength of this planet as already explained in my previous article named Exalted and Debilitated Planets. However there are some changes which a planet undergoes when it goes retrograde in a horoscope and these changes are usually regarding some of the characteristics of the retrograde planet and not the overall nature of the planet. So let's try to understand the changes which are signified when different planets go retrograde.

Starting with Jupiter, a retrograde Jupiter never shows any major negativity on account of being retrograde if it is otherwise positive in a horoscope though it does show some results which are different. A retrograde Jupiter usually produces positive or negative results with a delay compared to a straight moving Jupiter. It also renders the habit of preaching more than usual in some cases and it may also be responsible for a situation where the native sometimes does not know how to deal with his knowledge properly. Such natives may have a habit of giving unasked advice to other people and may not know how to properly apply their knowledge at times. Apart from these general deviations, a retrograde Jupiter works much the same as a straight moving Jupiter and gives positive or negative results regarding its other significances as indicated by the other factors in a horoscope.

A retrograde Mars in a horoscope usually signifies an excess of energy within the native and the native may not know what to do with this energy at times. So it can make the native aggressive and such natives may get angry comparatively sooner. A native with a retrograde Mars in his horoscope may take surprising decisions at times. A retrograde Mars in case of females may show some masculine habits like the tendency to control and dominate. Apart from these general deviations, a retrograde Mars gives it results in a very much similar way as a straight moving Mars. But it is important to notice that a retrograde Mars possesses far more energy than a straight moving Mars and it is capable of producing results of higher quantums and intensities. So people with a negative retrograde Mars in their horoscope must be careful as it can cause much more damage than a straight moving Mars.

A retrograde Venus in a horoscope usually signifies changes on the emotional front. Men with a retrograde Venus in their horoscope are usually more sensitive and possessive towards their love relations and it is comparatively difficult for them to let go of a girlfriend or a lover. Such men take a long time to recover from a setback in their love life. If the other factors are good in their horoscope, the men with a retrograde Venus can prove to be more devoted lovers provided their partners can deal with their habit of being possessive and sensitive. A retrograde Venus in case of women generally indicates aggression mixed with possessiveness when it comes to their love life. Such women usually like to control their love life and they are not comfortable letting go of their partner easily and depending upon the other factors in their horoscope, such women can be very revengeful at times. So be careful in case of women with a retrograde Venus in their horoscope as they can prove to be a one way entry in love life which means that once you get into a relation with these women, it is very difficult to get out of it without facing a big drama. A retrograde Venus usually works very much in the similar way as a straight moving Venus regarding rest of its significations except for the deviations mentioned above.

A retrograde Mercury usually signifies changes with speech abilities, communication skills and decision making abilities. People with a retrograde Mercury are generally observed to be very introvert or very extrovert which means that they may have a habit of speaking and expressing themselves a lot or they may not express themselves at all. They may also become unpredictable at times due to the effect of retrograde Mercury in their horoscope, as they may not be able to decide what to do and what not to do till the final moment and may make a decision in a state of confusion which makes them look unpredictable. Such people are also seen making some sudden decisions which may surprise other people. So be ready to accept some unpredictable decisions when someone with a retrograde Mercury is around. Apart from these changes, a retrograde Mercury usually shows positive or negative results as decided by the other factors in a horoscope.

And last but not the least, the one planet which actually causes concerns when it goes retrograde is none other than the most feared planet in Vedic astrology, the Saturn itself. This is the only planet which does show negativity when it goes retrograde in a horoscope, even if it is otherwise positive in a horoscope. A retrograde Saturn can show negative effects towards some or in extreme cases towards all of the significances ruled by it in a horoscope, depending upon the other factors present in a horoscope. It can make a person have a high ego, very demanding and over ambitious for material gains among other things. The deadliest effects of Saturn can be seen in a horoscope, if it is negative, retrograde and at the same time placed in Libra which is its sign of exaltation. And even if a positive, retrograde Saturn is placed in Libra, it is capable of producing sufficient negative results to bother the native though it may not be as bad as a negative, retrograde Saturn in Libra. So the natives with a retrograde Saturn in their horoscopes are advised not to wear a Gemstone for Saturn even if it is otherwise very positive or the Lord of the Ascendant itself, because a retrograde Saturn is capable of causing a serious setback at any time even if it is very positive otherwise. So be careful if you have a retrograde Saturn in your horoscope as it can cause mild to serious negative effects depending upon the other factors present in the horoscope even if it is otherwise positive in your horoscope.

To summarize, all retrograde planets except Saturn change some of their characteristics and otherwise keep on working positively or negatively as decided by the other factors in a horoscope, while in case of retrograde Saturn, mild to serious negative effects can be experienced, even if it is otherwise working positive in a horoscope.

By

Himanshu Shangari

Himanshu Shangari is a professional practitioner and researcher in Vedic Astrology and specializes in prescription of Gemstones and astrological remedies. Visit AstrologerPanditJi.com for more.