Planets are retrograde when from our perspective on Earth they look to be going backward. They are not actually going backward but the planet’s position in relation to the positions of the Sun and Earth means that sometimes they seem to be going in reverse motion.

If you look at the animation below you can see on the left that the Earth (blue dot) and Mars (red dot) are both in forward motion at all times. As we are looking at things from our perspective on Earth though, we see things more like the one the right. The loop in the diagram represents the retrograde motion of the planet. As this is a superior planet (Mars) the retrograde happens at the time of the opposition to the Sun.

There are two types of retrograde planets, the inferior and superior planets.

Retrograde Inferior Planets

Mercury and Venus

Mercury and Venus are both closer to the Sun than Earth and as such are called inferior planets. As they are so close to the Sun, we do not notice them in the sky unless they are at their most eastern or western elongation (distance from the Sun).

When they are at their most eastern elongation Mercury or Venus appear as the evening star, just after the Sun sets. At their most western elongation, they are the morning star, appearing ahead of the rising Sun.

Just before reaching their eastern elongation, Mercury and Venus appear to slow down and will soon station (come to a stop) and reverse (retrograde) their direction. This is called the station retrograde.

About midway through the retrograde period, Mercury or Venus will have their inferior conjunction with the Sun. The planet will continue on toward its most western elongation and a short while before it reaches that it will start to station (slow down and stop) and appear to resume forward motion (direct). This is called the station direct.

How often and what to expect

Mercury orbits the Sun in about 88 days compared to our 365.25 days. Venus orbits the Sun in about 225 days. When an inferior planet (Mercury or Venus) catches up to and passes the Earth, a retrograde occurs.

Mercury is retrograde about 3 times in a 13 months period. Mercury catches up to and passes Earth about every 116 days. Mercury is retrograde for about 22 days each time which means it is retrograde for about 20% of its cycle.

When Mercury is retrograde there is a tendency for mix-ups and delays. This is a time when it is good to go over old ground, to review, re-edit, re-do, re-think,  and re-organize. It is a good time to process and go over what has happened in the previous 3 months.

Venus is retrograde about once every 18 months. It takes approximately 584 days for Venus to catch up to and pass Earth. Venus is retrograde for about 42 days each time, making it retrograde for about 7% of its cycle.

When Venus is retrograde we are likely to be reviewing our relationships and values.

Retrograde Superior Planets

Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune & Pluto 

The superior planets are those that are further from the Sun than Earth. Therefore, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Pluto are the superior planets.

As the superior planets take longer to orbit the Sun than Earth, we eventually catch up and pass them about once a year. When this happens, the planet seems to slow down, stop and reverse its direction (station retrograde).

Superior planets don’t have inferior and superior conjunctions like the inferior planets. The superior planets have a conjunction with the Sun (superior conjunction for the inferior planets) and an opposition of the Sun (inferior conjunction for the inferior planets).

An inferior planet is retrograde when it is at its leading up to, during and leaving its inferior conjunction to the Sun (with the inferior planet between the Sun and Earth).  A superior planet is retrograde when it is leading up to, during and leaving its opposition to the Sun (with Earth being between the Sun and the superior planet).

The Sun squares the superior planets when they reach the eastern and western quadrature.

It is about the time of the square from the Sun at the eastern quadrature that the Earth is catching up to the superior planet.

Not long after the square from the Sun at the eastern quadrature, the superior planet starts to slow down and stop and change its direction (station retrograde). This is because the Earth has caught up to and is passing the superior planet.

At the time of the Sun opposition to the retrograde superior planet, Earth is between the Sun and the superior planet. The superior planet will only be moving at about 66% of the speed it would at its conjunction with the Sun, but is moving as fast as it will get during its retrograde phase.

The Sun will later go on to trine the superior planet and it will slow down, stop and seem to change to direct motion (station direct). The square from the Sun at the western quadrature occurs not long after the station direct.

How often and what to expect

Mars orbits the Sun every 687 days. Mars is retrograde about every 26 months for about 60 to 80 days. This means that Mars is retrograde about 9% of its cycle.

When Mars is transiting retrograde we are evaluating our power, drive, energy, and assertiveness.

Jupiter orbits the Sun every 12 years. Jupiter is retrograde about every 13 months for about 4 months. This means that Jupiter is retrograde about 30% of its cycle.

When Jupiter is transiting retrograde we are reviewing our personal moral compass, particularly regarding the affairs of the natal house that Jupiter is retrograding in.

Saturn orbits the Sun every 29 and a half years. Saturn is retrograde about every 12 and a half months for about 4 and a half months. This means that Saturn is retrograde for about 36% of its cycle.

When Saturn is transiting retrograde we are re-evaluating authority figures, limits, and our role in society.

Uranus orbits the Sun every 84 years. Uranus is retrograde about every 12 months for close to 5 months. This means that Uranus is retrograde for about 41% of its cycle.

Neptune orbits that Sun every 165 years. Neptune is retrograde about every 12 months for approximately 5 months. This means that Neptune is retrograde for about 43% of its cycle.

Pluto orbits the earth every 248 years. Pluto is retrograde about every 12 months for about 5 to 6 months. This means that Pluto is retrograde for about 44% of its cycle.

Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto have such slow orbits and are retrograde for such long periods that the effects tend to be felt on a collective level by all of society. The degree that the planet is moving backward and forward over may be a significant one in your natal chart and will have some significance there.

Retrograde Planets through The Houses 

The house or houses that a planet retrogrades through can give some indication of what areas of life you may feel the effects of the retrograde planet phase.

Mercury retrograde tends to bring back events or people related to the house or houses back into your life. Mercury retrograde can also cause issues related to the house that it is transiting through.

Venus retrograde has an 8-year cycle to its retrograde phases and this means that there may be events from 8 years previous that are up for evaluation again. Venus retrograde periods tend to have us focused on our relationships and our values.

The superior planets  (Mars to Pluto) and their retrograde phases are slightly different and you can read more about that in this article. The planets Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn tend to be able to demonstrate more clearly what the retrograde period was about and the outcomes. The outer planets, because of their slower movements, may take a lot longer for the meaning of their retrograde periods to become apparent.

1st House

When the 1st house is experiencing a planet transiting retrograde through it, we tend to be focused on ourselves, as the first house is related to ourselves and ourselves only. This includes our physical appearance as well as our physical vitality or health. The 1st house is often said to be like a mask or our personality, in that it represents how others (particularly those that may not know us well) perceive us.

2nd House 

When the 2nd house is experiencing a planet transiting retrograde through it, issues related to our finances and possessions tend to be highlighted. This can include our income, as well as our attitudes towards money in general and our attachment to our possessions. This can be a good time to focus on not only the big financial picture (investments) but also on daily monetary transactions (checking change when shopping etc).  

3rd House

When the 3rd house is experiencing a planet transiting retrograde through it, issues related to our siblings, and those that we meet in our daily lives may be highlighted. The 3rd house is also related to early education, our local neighborhood, general correspondence, and communications.  Taking short trips, or traveling to places we undertake on a regular basis also fall under the 3rd house. Particularly in relation to Mercury retrograde, issues with computers, electronics, electrical equipment, and transport are likely when it is traveling through this house.

4th House 

When the 4th house is experiencing a planet transiting retrograde through it, we may experience issues related to our homes or our families. The 4th house is our most private and personal house and relates to our roots and our upbringing. The 4th house is closely related to our parents, so it may be that matters related to our parents are prominent at this time. Real estate and events related to our country of birth may be involved during this retrograde phase.

5th House 

When the 5th house is experiencing a planet transiting retrograde through it there are often matters related to our children involved. This house is also related to our creative or artistic pursuits. The 5th house is related to what we do for fun and what brings us joy. Matters related to socializing, gambling, romance, and sporting activities may all fall under the 5th house.

6th House

When the 6th house is experiencing a planet transiting retrograde through it can have us focusing on our health and fitness. This is a house of work, so those that are employees may find that matters related to their employment, or those that they work with are highlighted at this time. Those that employ others may find that matters related to employees are where their attention is focused during these phases. Matters related to domestic animals may also occur when a planet is retrograding through the 6th house.

7th House

When the 7th house is experiencing a planet transiting retrograde through it can have us focusing on our relationships with our partners. This includes not just our romantic partners but our business partners as well. In fact, any one-on-one relationship that you are involved in may come under scrutiny during the retrograde phase.

8th House

When the 8th house is experiencing a planet transiting retrograde through it matters related to death, inheritances or other people’s money may be highlighted. Matters related to financial institutions, taxation or insurances may be highlighted at this time. Whereas the 2nd house is related to your own finances and possessions, the 8th is related to shared resources and possessions, so issues related to these matters may arise when a planet is retrograding through this house.

9th House

When the 9th house is experiencing a planet transiting retrograde through it matters related to long-distance travel, foreigners or other cultures may come to the fore. The 9th house is also related to higher education, philosophy, and religion. Matters related to the law, publishing and the internet also fall under 9th house matters.

10th House

When the 10th house is experiencing a planet transiting retrograde through it matters related to our career and public reputation may be under the spotlight. When a planet is retrograding through this house, you may experience more attention, as this is the most visible part of your natal chart. While the 10th is often related to our career, it also includes fame and notoriety.

11th House

When the 11th house is experiencing a planet transiting retrograde through it matters related to our friends are often experienced. Those that we know through groups and organizations that we belong to may also feature strongly at this time. Networking falls under the category of the 11th house, and our hopes and dreams are part of this house as well.

12th House

When the 12th house is experiencing a planet transiting retrograde through it matters related to our undoing may be apparent. The 12th house is related to places of confinement, which can include prisons, hospitals as well as monasteries and retreats. There may be a strong focus on psychological matters or addictions at the time that a planet is retrograding through this house.

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