Retrograde Planets and its Effects
- Arunagiri
- Jul 30, 2024
- 4 min read
What is Retrograde?
The term "retrograde" refers to the occasional backward movement of planets in the sky. Although all planets consistently move in the same direction, we perceive them as moving oppositely at times. This illusion happens due to Earth's relative motion with the corresponding planet(s). It's akin to how a fast-moving vehicle appears to move backward when its overtaken.
Perception Matters
Planets (grahas) are the hands of the cosmic clock (marking time's passage). So time seems to reverse when planets retrograde. It implies that the present time drifts into the past, leading the world to revisit past actions and events. Despite modern astronomy dismissing retrograde as an illusion, astrology, which is rooted in ancient astronomy, extensively discusses the impact of retrogrades on Earth. Astrology values not just reality but also how we perceive the reality (a notion akin to Einstein's relativity theory).
Everyday phenomena like Sunrise and Sunset (products of Earth's rotation) are illusions, yet they profoundly influence our world. Ultimately, how you perceive reality is as vital as reality itself in shaping your life.
Astrological Explanation
Having understood the significance of perception, let's delve into the astrological interpretation of retrograde planets. According to astrology, a retrograde planet signifies the following in your birth chart:
you will have to confront the unfinished karma of the retrograde planet and its 12th house
you will have to repeatedly perform the karma related to the retrograde planet
you will have to work on the weaknesses and false beliefs associated with that planet
Retrograde planets have a stronger impact during childhood.
The significations of the planets (that are retrograde) will pose challenges in the early stages of life. For example, a person with Mars retrograde may have challenges with their body, challenges with their siblings, challenges with fear. On the other hand, Saturn retrograde may bring challenges in maintaining consistency, sleep, work routines. But retrograde planet(s) are more focused, they have a set purpose, which will be revealed around the end of your 20s and the beginning of 30s. That's when you'll realise that all those repeated patterns you have seen throughout your early stage of life is coming to fruition.
A person with retrograde Jupiter might have to learn the hard way—going through ten different teachers just to learn one subject. But in the process, they don’t just learn; they absorb, question, and refine. By the time they master something, they’ve seen the strengths and flaws of all those teachers, and end up becoming a better teacher than those they learned from.
Example Charts
Retrograde planets are known for their high karmic influence, which can make a person stand out from the norm. They can make a person unique or special, particularly if they are associated with benefic planets or forming benefic yogas. Since retrograde planets make you repeat your karma over and over, you become become an expert in that particular field.
Retrograde planets aid individuals in achieving more than what others can, both in the spiritual and materialistic paths. They allow for a greater perception of the hidden reality compared to direct planets.
Srinivasa Ramanujan, the great mathematician known to the world as the man who knew infinity.
Ramanujan's rise to fame can be attributed to the placement of his retrograde 9th lord Saturn in the 2nd house, which was aspected by benefic Jupiter and kendra to Venus, which made him famous between 1914 and 1919, during his Ketu dasha, because Ketu is under the direct purview of Saturn. His Saturn is also exalted in the navamsha (aspected by Venus), further emphasizing his unique and exceptional qualities.
Neil Armstrong, the first human to set foot on the Moon.
Armstrong gained fame in the late 1960s with his 9th lord Saturn retrograde in the 8th house, aspected by Jupiter and kendra to Venus. He landed on the Moon during his Moon dasha while Moon and Saturn are together in the chart. In his navamsha chart, his Saturn receives the aspect of Jupiter once again.
Twists and Turns
According to astrological texts like Uttara Kalamrita and Phaladeepika, retrograde planets can be compared to the nodes (Rahu & Ketu) due to their backward movement. In other words, retrograde planets will have a nodal touch such as bringing sudden results, going against the norm, and a general opposing nature. They bring unexpected twists and turns in one's life similar to the nodes.
Exalted yet Retrograde
Exalted retrograde planet will act like a debilitated planet (but not entirely) and debilitated retrograde planet will act like an exalted one. Its as simple as that. In my observation, an exalted retrograde planet works well if it follows the actions of its house placement repeatedly or follows the actions of its 12th house. For instance, Mercury in Virgo works well in the field of accounts but if its retrograde then the native has to work repeatedly in the field of accounts (to master) or simply hire an accountant (like Leo does).
Role of Perception in Discovering the Reality (NASA)
Recently, scientists managed to capture the image of an actual black hole which appeared as a dark void in space surrounded by luminous light. Black holes do not emit or reflect light, they rather draw in anything that are close to them, including light itself. However, the light particles that encircle the black hole are far enough away from its event horizon to escape from its grasp, which ultimately led to the discovery of its existence. This discovery underscores the idea that perception plays a crucial role in understanding reality, even in the case of the most obscure and elusive phenomena (like a black hole). Without the perceptual cues provided by the surrounding light particles, the black hole would likely have remained invisible for years to come.
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