Retrograde Planets
...in a birth chart: power denied or delayed?
A few weeks ago, I announced an upcoming article in my note, so here it is. Since Fiona Aedgar has published her own take on Mercury retrograde, which is highly informative for those who think they’re somehow “debilitated“ because of it (spoiler alert: you are absolutely not, and any astrologer who tells you that is full of it), I’m giving you an overview of the rest of the retrograde planets’ natures in a birth chart.
Contrary to ideas within the New Age branch, the retrograde motion is not something that holds you back. First off, nothing in your chart holds you back, only you can because of the filter (or thick walls) through which you see yourself and the world, determining how you act, what kind of decisions you make and what patterns you follow. Traditionally, retrograde is interpreted as a slowing down, turning inward or an intensified quality of a planet’s expression, but not a negation thereof. If you have difficulties in love, for instance, the condition of Venus (also the Moon, btw.), as in house placement, dignity and aspectation, is much more telling than the direct or retrograde motion. But the Temu astrologers will usually not take that into consideration, because going by the most surface-level judgement is so much easier.
There is no need to think you’re somehow impeded, or denied success in life because one or more planets in your chart were in retrograde when you were born. In fact, the retrograde nature has a hidden power that might come out later in life or less easily and after a period of transformation, but with all the more impact and durability as we mature. As someone who has Mercury and other planets retrograde in her own birth chart, I can fully attest to that, although I would lie if I said having a natal Mercury retrograde in a world that thrives on triviality and extroversion is great fun.
Mercury is the planet of mental processes, communication, intellect, ideas, business, and also potentially artistic and psychic gifts (Mercury is a psychopomp, after all, which tends to be forgotten amidst the prevailing “Jack of all trades“ image). Roughly about 18–20% of people are born with Mercury retrograde in their birth charts.
Venus rules romantic love, attraction, relationships and money, but also one’s capacity for giving and receiving pleasure and enjoyment, even creativity to an extent (not so much the manifest results, but the creative process and inspiration). In retrograde, relationships might not unfold in a totally conventional way, or experience delays or complications, or might be colored by issues that are a bit outside of the “normal“, whatever that means. Example: the native might be slower to get into a relationship than their peers, or have a strong tendency for developing their own standards and this could keep some more casual opportunities away or make it harder to settle for a partner. None of these things are inherently negative, on the contrary. A person with natal Venus retrograde could be challenged to develop their own set of rules and not rely so much on others to tell them where to fit in. They might be extra careful and selective, resulting in choices that align with their true nature instead of compromising where it might not be a good idea to do so. The same can be applied to how they value money. There could also be an issue with femininity in a woman’s chart that she has to work through, such as allowing herself to be “softer“, for instance.
Mars is retrograde only about 9–10% of the time. The warrior planet is all about motivation, one’s general drive, the way we manifest and express energy, our ambition, competitiveness, aggression, masculinity (also in women), sex drive, and speed of metabolism. A person with Mars retrograde might not be as quick to act, take their time strategizing, and be a lot less forward with their ambitions. But beware, a Mars retrograde in Libra (fall) will act completely differently from a Mars retrograde in Aries (domicile). Generally speaking, this Mars is slower to confront but more powerful to burst out once it does due to internalizing aggression. Another expression can be a greater degree of self-directed anger, whether that is self-criticism or always holding oneself back in order to rethink before acting. This can develop into a real problem with hesitancy and repression, pettiness or anger management in the worst scenario. The other is extremely beneficial, depending on the total context of the chart, contributing to a calm, thoughtful, controlled and persistent character that plays the long game and doesn’t waste their energy on distractions.
Jupiter rules over one’s capacity for optimism and resilience, urge to grow, learn and expand one’s horizons (physically as well as intellectually/ spiritually), wisdom, morality, beliefs, abundance and the ability to create abundance for oneself, and about one-third of people are born with it retrograde. The most profound effect of Jupiter retrograde is a gift, but also a challenge, where creating your own, independent belief system is concerned. If you have that in your chart, you might have had a continuous theme in your life where you find you can’t just stick with something just because, but feel a strong inner urge to go deeper and beyond the conventional or what you’ve become used to. As you grow, so do your beliefs, but you keep finding yourself transforming those beliefs according to your level of experience and growing need for spiritual independence. This is by no means fickleness, but a strong internal compass that makes it impossible for you to settle for what seems right, you need to find what truly is right for you. Depending on the house, there are different themes where this can take hold, for instance the second house where you may have to develop your own ideas and framework where money and personal income is concerned. You might search for meaning in the way you make a living and thus could find it harder to establish stability and find opportunities therein. Having said that, the growth that you experience can become the key to your own, self-directed way of finding success and joy in life.
Saturn retrograde affects about one-third of people and can hint at a lack of structure from the father or male authority figure in childhood, and a general lack of structure and discipline (potentially!) or issues concerning boundaries and patience. Instead of a disorganized person that can’t stick to plans and has an issue with authority, however, this more likely entails a strong inner sense of justice and the drive towards making your own rules rather than submitting to someone who demands you follow theirs. Having said that, there can definitely be a lack of early childhood stability involved in one way or another, and as with everything concerning Saturn, these themes are much better understood and handled after we’ve had our first Saturn return at roughly age 29. Before that, things such as self-criticism or having had to grow up too soon or shouldering responsibilities and pressures too heavy for your age can feel extremely oppressive and hard to deal with. But with time and maturity, these difficulties can grow into a strong sense of self, establishing clear boundaries and confidence that arises from hard lessons learned and finding a healthy way to become disciplined without tormenting oneself.
Uranus retrograde can be found in around 40% of people. As a modern/ generational planet, its effect isn’t as personal in an individual chart. The same goes for Neptune and Pluto, but generally speaking, Uranus retrograde shows a tendency or challenge where finding one’s own approach is concerned, a non-traditional and unconventional path that could totally disrupt or rebel against one’s family. This could express itself in unruliness or instability, but also strong independence, originality and a real talent for innovation.
Neptune retrograde is also fairly common, affecting around 40% of people. As the planet of glamour, illusion and deception, and of a selfless and deeply spiritual quality (possibly unsure of one’s identity), the retrograde motion reverses these qualities and makes it harder to be fooled, brings greater trust in oneself so one is less easily manipulated, and definitely much less idealistic. People with Neptune retrograde could find it easier – speaking extremely generally here, of course – to tap into the “psycho-sphere“, have highly imaginative ideas and a rich inner world, and see through illusions.
Pluto retrograde can be found in roughly half of all people and is seen as having a more introspective nature that derives power from looking within. Pluto’s themes center around transformation and bringing hidden things to light, so with this setting, it can show deep psychological processes unfolding over a long time that ultimately lead to self-transformation, but, being Pluto, it’s not an easy or non-destructive path by any stretch. Depending on the house placement, the area of life represented by the house can be the one that sees the shedding of many layers before a person really comes into their power in that area.
Again, please note that the retrograde is not to be seen in isolation, but in context with the planet’s condition and, specifically, whether it’s dignified or not through the sign it’s in and how it interacts with the rest of the chart. And not to forget the question of house placement. This can entirely change the theme for a planet’s story, and for all the aforementioned reasons, a one-size-fits-all TikTok interpretation won’t fit. For those who look at the fixed stars, Arabic Parts or other additional factors, these are also important to examine in order to get the full picture.
If you would like a personal reading (birth chart, predictive astrology, relationship astrology), please visit www.sunmoonself.com/readings for more information and contact info@sunmoonself.com to book a reading with me.
© Olivia Solner
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Thanks , that's very helpful