Planetary Retrogrades for 2013

Happy New Year and I hope 2013 is a healthy, peaceful, prosperous and happy year for you all.

Below are the planetary retrograde dates and positions for 2013, plus over at my website you can find Moon info for January - Void of Course and Moon Sign Changes and Moon Phases (with explanations).

Mercury

Mercury turns retrograde on 24 February at 19 Pisces 47 
Mercury turns direct on 18 March at 05 Pisces 41

Mercury turns retrograde on 27 June at 23 Cancer 04
Mercury turns direct on 21 July at 13 Cancer 24

Mercury turns retrograde on 22 October at 18 Scorpio 19
Mercury turns direct on 11 November at 02 Scorpio 34 

Venus
Venus turns retrograde on 22 December at 28 Capricorn 57
Venus turns direct on 1 February 2014 at 13 Capricorn 34

Mars
No Mars retrograde in 2013

Jupiter
Jupiter turns retrograde on 4 October 2012 at 16 Gemini 22 
Jupiter turns direct on 30 January at 06 Gemini 19

Jupiter turns retrograde on 7 November at 20 Cancer 30 
Jupiter turns direct on 7 March 2014 at 10 Cancer

Saturn

Saturn turns retrograde on 19 February at 11 Scorpio 31
Saturn turns direct on 9 July at 04 Scorpio 49

Uranus

Uranus turns retrograde on 18 Jul at 12 Aries 31
Uranus turns direct on 17 December at 08 Aries 35

Neptune
Neptune turns retrograde on 8 June at 05 Pisces 22

Neptune turns direct on 14 November at 02 Pisces 34

Pluto
Pluto turns retrograde on 13 Apr at 11 Capricorn 35
Pluto turns direct on 21 Sep at 08 Capricorn 59

Chiron
Chiron turns retrograde on 17 June at 13 Pisces 50
Chirons turns direct on 20 November at 09 Pisces 07

Note: dates are based on European time zones and may vary by a maximum of one day for other time zones.

For an explanation of retrograde and direct, please click here

See also:

An Explanation of Retrograde, Station and Direct
Retrograde Planets in the Birth Chart

with love Mandi

http://www.mandilockley.com/

Planetary Retrograde Dates for 2012

Planetary Retrogrades for 2012

(For an explanation of retrograde and direct, please click here)

Mercury
Mercury turns retrograde on 12 Mar at 6 Aries 49 
Mercury turns direct on 4 April at 23 Pisces 50

Mercury turns retrograde on 15 July at 12 Leo 32
Mercury turns direct on 8 Aug at 1 Leo 25

Mercury turns retrograde on 6 November at 04 Sagittarius 18
Mercury turns direct on 26 November at 18 Scorpio 10 

Venus
Venus turns retrograde on 15 May at 23 Gemini 59
Venus turns direct on 27 June at 07 Gemini 29

Mars
Mars turns retrograde on 24 January at 23 Virgo 05
Mars turns direct on 14 April at 03 Virgo 41

Jupiter
Jupiter turns retrograde on 4 October at 16 Gemini 22 
Jupiter turns direct on 30 January 2013 at 06 Gemini 19 

Saturn

Saturn turns retrograde on 8 February at 29 Libra 30
Saturn turns direct on 25 June at 22 Libra 45

Uranus

Uranus turns retrograde on 13 Jul 2011 at 08 Aries 32
Uranus turns direct on 13 December at 04 Aries 36

Neptune
Neptune turns retrograde on 4 June at 03 Pisces 09

Neptune turns direct on 11 November at 00 Pisces 21

Pluto
Pluto turns retrograde on 10 Apr at 09 Capricorn 33  
Pluto turns direct on 18 Sep at 06 Capricorn 57

Chiron
Chiron turns retrograde on 12 June at 09 Pisces 45
Chirons turns direct on 14 November at 04 Pisces 58

Note: dates are based on European time zones and may vary by a maximum of one day for other time zones.

See also:

An Explanation of Retrograde, Station and Direct
Retrograde Planets in the Birth Chart

Mandi

http://www.mandilockley.com/

Astrology for August Part 2 ~ Calmer, Cleaner, Humbler

August’s astro-preview is split into two parts. A summary list of all August’s events is included at the end of each post. Click to read Part 1

Leo Constellation

August 16/17: Sun, Mercury and Venus Collide

Well, not exactly a collision but a conjunction, meaning that the three planets occupy the same section of the night sky, in the constellation of Leo.

These planets coming together in Leo speak about courage, creativity, drama, recognition and pride, as well what we hold dearest in our hearts and in our minds. Coming straight of the back of the Aquarius Full Moon adds to the drama and intensity of this triple conjunction and Mercury retrograde urges us to review our ideals.

Are we idealistically clinging on to old, worn out mindsets? When we relate to others are we truly sharing, giving of ourselves, or are we only thinking of what we can get out of the partnership? Are we channeling our creative energies in the right direction? Where in our lives do we truly need to be courageous now? Do we unrealistically expect our relationships to be perfect?

Giving some thought to these questions now, could help us when sensitive, self-protective Mars in Cancer squares up to stern, relationship focused Saturn in Libra on the 25th. This is a less comfortable alignment, which could easily put us on the defensive when it comes to issues around our closest relationships and our family ties. On the plus side, this square can help blast away any confusion and unworkable idealism, giving us patience and discipline to work through our issues.

August 21: Venus in Virgo

After Venus in Leo comes a much quieter energy. With Venus in Virgo, the affection is in the details, not in the grand gestures. You and your loved ones will now be able to take a step back from the drama of the last few weeks. Forget hearts and roses and consider the small things you do for each other that really show that you care. The husband who cooks dinner and clears up when you’re feeling tired, the friend who always calls when she says she will and the workmate who knows you’re having a bad day, but instead of making a big deal of it, simply brings you a coffee and a sympathetic smile.

Venus is in Virgo until September 15.

August 23: Sun in Virgo

Just a couple of days after Venus moves into Virgo, the Sun follows suit. Here’s something I wrote a couple of years ago about Virgo, A Celebration of Virgo:

Quiet, hardworking, critical, modest, exacting, discriminating, dissecting, modest, humble, lacking in confidence are some of the common words and phrases used to describe Virgo. Not very exciting is it? Why not? Perhaps it’s because it comes right after Leo in the Zodiac. Any sign would seem humble after Leo, would it not?

Imagine a scene in the playground, two young lads practicing their goal scoring skills:
Little Bobby Leo, as he kicks the ball straight through the goal posts: Yes!!!! I’m ace!!!! The best!!!! I’m gonna be the next Beckham or Ronaldo!!!!
Little Jimmy Virgo, carefully lining up his ball for his shot: Quiet Bobby, I’m trying to concentrate. He shoots, the ball goes in. Hey, I’m getting good at this, a bit more practice and I might make the school team.

Humble? Not really. Realistic, hardworking, practical, yes! You see, Virgo is an Earth sign. Earth signs say it like it is, they say I am what I am, and just like their other Earth cousins, Taurus and Capricorn and they just get on with it, without any of that Leo hubris or drama.

Perhaps part of the reason for Virgo’s bad press is that it rules the 6th house of the zodiac. The 6th house, traditionally, is malefic (‘bad’). It is the house of service, toil, chores, servants, subordinates, of small and humble things. It is also the house of illness and infirmity. Doesn’t sound like much fun does it?

Of all the concepts from the above list, I think the only one that Virgo should own and embrace is service. Service does not have to mean subordination. After all, when you strip away the power and the ego, what are our politicians and spiritual leaders if they are not servants? Of course, we have to hope that they are servants to a higher cause, for the greater good, but seen this way, there is nothing humble about it. It is a huge responsibility, a responsibility worthy of any Virgo.

However, Virgo, like the other Mutable signs (Gemini, Sagittarius and Pisces) must beware of spreading themselves too thin, scattering their energies and splintering off in too many directions.

On the world stage, it's finally time for the Pluto in Virgo* generation (Barack Obama and UK PM in waiting, David Cameron – note: David Cameron is now the UK PM) to take the reins from the Pluto in Leo* bunch (George W Bush, Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown) and clean up the messes they have made, ready for future, fair and just, Pluto in Libra* leaders.

So for now, if you have Sun in Virgo (or otherwise have strong Virgo in your horoscope) you're in very good company. Stand up, borrow a little bit of that Leo pride, courage and confidence and get busy. You are wonderful and the world needs you!

*The Pluto in Leo generation was born between 1938 and 1956. The Pluto in Virgo generation was born between 1957 and 1971 and the Pluto in Libra generation between 1972 and 1984. The start and end dates are approximate because Pluto tends to go back and forth before it settles into a new sign.

Click to read what some well known Virgos have to say for themselves

Sun in Virgo until September 23.

August 25: Mars Square Saturn

See August 16/17.

August 26: Mercury in Leo turns Direct

Mercury turns around at 19 degrees of Leo. Did you use the Mercury Retrograde period wisely? Even though it’s out of Retrograde it will still be in the shadow of its retrograde - going forward through the zodiac degrees it previously went backwards through - until September 10, so some of Mercury Retrograde’s themes and issues could drag on until then.

Mercury turned Retrograde in Virgo on August 2/3. It re-entered Leo on August 7/8. It turns direct on August 26 and re-enters Virgo on September 8/9 where it stays until September 25.

August 29: Virgo New Moon

A Virgo New Moon is a good time to consider what and whom we serve. Is it, or they, worthy of our time and our energy? Is what we do for others healthy for everyone or is it a one-sided arrangement? Are we respecting the boundaries of those who serve us? This New Moon, at five degrees of Virgo, makes a Grand Trine with Jupiter in Taurus and Pluto in Capricorn, making this a fortuitous lunation for dealing with practical matters, reviewing routines and kicking any unhealthy habits.

Mostly, a New Moon is a planning time, not an action time, but the thinking you do and the decision you make now will prepare you for the action that needs to be taken around the time of the First Quarter Moon on September 4/5 and the dynamic Full Moon in Aries on September 12th

Click for details of all of August’s Moon phases

August 30: Jupiter Retrograde in Taurus

Jupiter, the planet of growth and reward, has been in earthy, sensual, materialistic Taurus since early June and now turns Retrograde, signaling a time to review what we have learnt and discovered over the last couple of months.

Usually, Jupiter is about outward growth, where we seek to be rewarded out in the wide world. When retrograde though, Jupiter rewards inner growth and encourages us to contemplate and review our personal philosophy, beliefs and ethics. In Taurus, we are invited to consider our relationship to the physical world, nature and sensuality. We are asked to look deeply into our attitude to wealth, money and luxury. Is our need for comfort and sensation making us wasteful and over-materialistic? Is our over-consumption showing on our bodies? Would a simpler existence be healthier for ourselves and our environment? How will it help us spiritually to look for a new perspective on what we think we need and want out of life?

Jupiter entered Taurus in June 4, 2011. It turns retrograde at 10 degrees of Taurus on August 30. It turns direct on December 26 at one degree of Taurus and remains in Taurus until June 2012.

Summary of August’s Main Events

August 2: Mercury turns retrograde in Virgo
August 3: Mars enters Cancer and trines Neptune
August 4: Retrograde Neptune revisits Aquarius
August 7/8: Retrograde Mercury re-enters Leo and opposes Neptune
August 9: Mars square Uranus
August 10: Mars opposes Pluto
August 13: Aquarius Full Moon
August 16: Conjunction of Sun, Mercury and Venus
August 21: Venus enters Virgo
August 22: Sun opposes Neptune
August 23: Sun enters Virgo
August 25: Mars square Saturn
August 26: Mercury turns Direct
August 29: Virgo New Moon
August 30: Jupiter in Taurus retrograde.

Click for August's Moon Phases
Click for Void of Course Moon times for August

With love,
Mandi
http://www.mandilockley.com/

Planetary Retrograde Dates for 2011

Planetary Retrogrades for 2011

(For an explanation of Retrograde, Station and Direct, please click here)

Mercury
Mercury turns retrograde on 31 Mar 2011 at 24Ari21
Mercury turns direct on 24 Apr 2011 at 12Ari53
Retrograde period (including Station): 25 days

Mercury turns retrograde on 4 Aug 2011 at 01Virg12
Mercury turns direct on 27 Aug 2011 at 18Leo41
Retrograde period (including Station): 24 days

Mercury turns retrograde on 25 Nov 2011 at 20Sag07
Mercury turns direct on 15 Dec 2011 at 03Sag51
Retrograde period (including Station): 21 days

Venus
No Retrogrades in 2011

Mars
No Retrogrades in 2011

Jupiter
Jupiter turns retrograde on 31 Aug 2011 at 10Tau21
Jupiter turns direct on 26 Dec 2011 at 00Tau21
Retrograde period (including Station): 118 days

Saturn
Saturn turns retrograde on 27 Jan 2011 at 17Lib13
Saturn turns direct on 14 Jun 2011 at 10Lib26
Retrograde period (including Station): 139 days

Uranus
Uranus turns retrograde on 11 Jul 2011 at 04Ari33
Uranus turns direct on 11 Dec 2011 at 00Ari38
Retrograde period (including Station): 154 days

Neptune
Stations Retrograde on 4 June 2011 at 00Pis55

Stations Direct on 10 November 2011 at 28Aqu08
Retrograde period (including Station): 160 days

Pluto
Pluto turns retrograde on 10 Apr 2011 at 07Cap30
Pluto turns direct on 17 Sep 2011 at 04Cap53
Retrograde period (including Station): 160 days

Chiron
Stations Retrograde on 9 June 2011 at 5Pis29
Stations Direct on 11 November 2011 at 00Pis38
Retrograde period (including Station): 155 days

Notes

All dates are based on GMT time.

See also:
An Explanation of Retrograde, Station and Direct
Retrograde Planets in the Birth Chart

Mandi

http://www.mandilockley.com/

Halloween Special ~ Past Life Astrology (Pt. 3)

In parts 1 and 2 of this introduction to past life astrology, I looked at the Sun and the Moon’s Nodes. Karmic astrologers also look at retrograde planets to glean insight into issues and challenges from past lives.

Before I look at retrograde planets, I would like to point out that while our Sun sign, Nodes and retrograde planets (and other things in our chart) can highlight past life / karmic issues and challenges, it does not mean that you were ‘bad’ or you ‘failed’ in a past life, so do not judge yourself harshly.

I believe that each soul comes into this world with its own chosen mission, a set of lessons it has volunteered to learn and an array of challenges it has opted to take. These are all designed to help the soul to grow and learn. However, here on earth, I believe we have free will to decide whether or how we take on those challenges.

Please also bear in mind when you read the ‘meanings’ I list for each retrograde planet that these are merely suggestions in keeping with the traditional symbolism of each planet. Do not take them as ‘read’, use them as a starting point to prompt you, then let your own experience and intuition guide you towards what your retrograde planet means to you personally. There’s no right or wrong answer.

It’s also worth considering that some past life issues simply need to be released so the soul can move forward. For example, souls who were persecuted for their ideas and opinions in a past life may need to release a fear of speaking freely in this life so that they can fulfill their mission. Souls who led spiritual past lives and took vows of chastity or poverty, may need to release themselves from those vows in this life, in order to let go of negative fears and emotions around prosperity and sexuality. For some tips on release-ment, see my previous blog post here.

Retrograde Planets and Past Lives

All the planets (except the Sun and Moon) spend some time retrograde and most people have one or more retrograde planet in their birth chart. When a planet is retrograde, you are likely to experience its energy internally and subjectively. In early life you may have difficulties with the areas of life the planet represents, but you will get a second chance later in life.

Karmic astrologers believe that retrograde planets in our birth chart represent:

• Unfinished business from past lives.
• A second chance to balance your karma by working out a past life issue.
• A chance to let go of a past life issue that is holding you back in this lifetime.
• Past life energies that can be used to help your soul’s growth in this lifetime.
• A chance to find fulfillment and achievement that was denied in a past life.

Mercury Retrograde

• Unfinished business from a past life around communicating and expressing yourself.
• A second chance to overcome a past life fear of criticism.
• A chance to let go of past life fears of speaking your truth freely. Perhaps you were victimized for your opinions in a past life, but now you have the opportunity to speak up and be heard.
• An opportunity for soul growth through learning to listen to other’s point of view, or through learning to be flexible and open to new ideas.
• A chance to find fulfillment and achievement through learning and education. If education was denied you in past life, you can make up for it in this life.

Venus Retrograde

• Unfinished business from past life relationships.
• A second chance to experience love and affection denied or lost in a past life.
• A chance to let go of unhelpful emotional behaviors and fears by engaging in relationships. For example, learning to trust and open up to others.
• A chance to release and heal low self esteem issues from past lives.
• An opportunity for soul growth through learning to give and receive in relationships.
• A chance to find fulfillment and achievement through relationship and intimacy and/or through valuing yourself and others.

Mars Retrograde

• Unfinished business from past lives around competition and self assertion.
• A second chance to balance karma from past misdeeds that you still subconsciously feel guilty about.
• A chance to let go of anger and frustration left over from a past life.
• An opportunity for soul growth through learning to assert yourself in a positive and healthy way.
• A chance to find fulfillment and achievement through taking positive action towards getting what you truly want and need.
• An opportunity to learn how to follow your passions and desires.

 Jupiter Retrograde

• An opportunity find closure from past life issues by looking deeply within yourself to find truth and meaning.
• A chance to let go of past life feelings of not being deserving of life’s rewards and riches.
• An opportunity for soul growth through resolving issues around spiritual and religious beliefs. (For example, perhaps you were persecuted in a past life for your religion or maybe you were forced to follow a religion you didn’t believe in.)
• A second chance to find fulfillment and achievement through:
• ~Deep study and higher learning.
• ~Experiencing different countries and cultures.
• ~Learning to have faith in life, yourself and the world.

Saturn Retrograde

• Unfinished business from past lives where you may have felt inadequate, pessimistic or blocked. These issues can be worked out by facing them head on and taking positive steps to resolve them.
• A second chance to balance karma by working out issues from a past life where you had difficulty taking responsibility or setting healthy boundaries.
• A chance to let go of fears that may have held you back in a past life.
• An opportunity for soul growth through being a parent or becoming an authority.
• Soul growth from succeeding and earning respect by your own efforts, without cutting corners.
• A chance to find fulfillment and achievement through patiently and diligently working towards long term goals.

The Outer Planets ~ Uranus, Neptune, Pluto

Note: The outer planets spend so much time retrograde that most souls come in with at least one of these planets retrograde. These are the generational planets, so if you have one or more of these retrograde in your chart you are part of a generation that has some collective karma to work out. As such, the retrograde outer planet may not have much karmic resonance with you on a personal/individual level. However, if your retrograde outer planet is on an angle (such as the Ascendant or Midheaven) or is making a close aspect to one of your personal planets (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars), then it may have some karmic significance for you. If you’re not sure, use your intuition and experience to guide you.

Uranus Retrograde 

• Unfinished business from past lives where you resisted change. In this life you learn that change can be a good thing.
• A chance to balance past life karma by daring to do things your own way, even if it upsets the status quo.
• A chance to let go of a past life fear of being persecuted for being different.
• An opportunity to pursue independence and freedom that was denied in a past life.
• An opportunity for soul growth through embracing your individuality and originality.
• A chance to find fulfillment and achievement through living life authentically, being true to who you are. 

Neptune Retrograde

• Unfinished business from past lives where you were super sensitive. In this life you can learn to use your sensitivity to help others while at the same time learning to set healthy personal boundaries.
• A chance to balance karma by embracing your creativity and imagination, especially if you didn’t nurture these in a past life.
• A chance to let go of unhelpful fantasies and escapist tendencies that held you back in a past life.
• An opportunity for soul growth through learning that there is more to life than what you can see and touch with your five senses.
• A chance to find fulfillment and achievement through fostering compassion for yourself and for all life.

Pluto Retrograde

• Unfinished business from past lives around issues of power and control. Perhaps you had no power or control in a past life, or perhaps you had too much and abused it. In this life you learn that power and control can be used in healthy, constructive ways, not in destructive ways. You may also need to recognize that there are some things in life that you cannot control.
• A chance to balance your karma and regenerate yourself by purging unhelpful, self-sabotaging behaviors and emotions.
• A chance to balance karma by seeking fresh perspectives on old (past life) problems, in order to release yourself from them.
• A chance to let go of a past life ‘addiction’ to crisis and upheaval by learning that there is a calmer, more controlled way of dealing with life’s ups and downs.
• An opportunity for soul growth through learning to trust your instincts.
• Soul growth through learning that while you can’t always control what happens to you, you can control how you react and respond.
• A chance to find fulfillment and achievement through learning to be honest and forgiving in your dealings with others.

Part 1: The Sun and Past Lives
Part 2: The Moon’s Nodes and Past Lives

Resources and Further Reading:
You can get a copy of your chart for free at www.alabe.com
Book recommendation: Karmic Astrology, Retrogrades and Reincarnation by Martin Schulman

With love,
Mandi
www.mandilockley.com

 

Planetary Retrograde Dates for 2010

Here are the dates of planetary Retrograde and Direct Stations for 2010.

(For an explanation of Retrograde, Station and Direct, please click here>)

Mercury
Stations Retrograde on 26 Dec 2009 at 22 Capricorn
Stations Direct on 15 Jan 2010 at 6 Capricorn
Retrograde period (including Station): 21 days

Stations Retrograde on 18 Apr 2010 at 13 Taurus

Stations Direct on 11 May 2010 at 03 Taurus
Retrograde period (including Station): 24 days

Stations Retrograde on 20 Aug 2010 at 19 Virgo

Stations Direct on 12 Sep 2010 at 05 Virgo
Retrograde period (including Station): 24 days

Stations Retrograde on 10 Dec 2010 at 06 Capricorn

Stations Direct on 29 Dec 2010 at 20 Sagittarius
Retrograde period (including Station): 22 days

Venus
Stations Retrograde on 7 Oct 2010 at 13 Scorpio

Stations Direct on 18 Nov 2010 at 28 Libra
Retrograde period (including Station): 42 days

Mars
Stations Retrograde on 20 Dec 2009 at 20 Leo
Stations Direct on 10 Mar 2010 at 0 Leo
Retrograde period (including Station): 82 days

Jupiter
Stations Retrograde on 23 Jul 2010 at 3 Aries

Stations Direct on 18 Nov 2010 at 23 Pisces
Retrograde period (including Station): 116 days

Saturn
Stations Retrograde on 13 Jan 2010 at 5 Libra

Stations Direct on 30 May 2010 at 28 Virgo
Retrograde period (including Station): 137 days

Uranus
Stations Retrograde on 5 Jul 2010 at 01 Aries

Stations Direct on 6 Dec 2010 at 27 Pisces
Retrograde period (including Station): 154 days

Neptune
Stations Retrograde on 31 May 2010 at 29 Aquarius

Stations Direct on 7 Nov 2010 at 26 Aquarius
Retrograde period (including Station): 161 days

Pluto
Stations Retrograde on 7 Apr 2010 at 5 Capricorn
Stations Direct on 14 Sep 2010 at 03 Capricorn
Retrograde period (including Station): 161 days

Chiron
Stations Retrograde on 4 Jun 2010 at 1 Pisces
Stations Direct on 5 Nov 2010 at 26 Aquarius
Retrograde period (including Station): 154 days

Notes

All dates are based on GMT time.
The positions in the Zodiac of the Station Retrograde and Station Direct have been rounded up to the nearest degree.

For an explanation of Retrograde, Station and Direct, please click here>
A discussion of Retrograde Planets in the Birth Chart here>

Mandi

http://www.mandilockley.com/

Retrograde Planets in the Birth Chart

If you have a Retrograde planet in your birth chart, there’s no need to panic, it doesn’t mean that the part of your life that the particular planet represents is not going to be successful!

The general theory is that the Retrograde planet is expressed more on an inner level, that the needs and urges represented by the planet are somewhat held back or blocked. However, there is usually a second chance later in life for the person to learn to express that planet at its best. From a karmic point of view, it is as if the Retrograde planet represents a life lesson, a challenge that must be met in order to deal with unfinished business and clear the path for future progress.

For example, a recent client with Mercury Retrograde in his birth chart had difficulty in communicating as a child which led to underachievement in learning at school. However, as a young adult, after a few years of drifting, he discovered a passion and talent for electronics which spurred him back into education where he gained good qualifications, enabling him to go on to run his own successful business.

I have also seen many clients with Saturn Retrograde in their charts who report that they lacked a proper father figure in their lives when they were growing up. (The reasons varied, perhaps father was absent or very passive or perhaps he was overly strict, tyrannical.) Many of these people later became determined to be good parents and positive role models for their own children, to make up for what they themselves felt they had missed out on. For a detailed discussion of Saturn Retrograde, please see the work of astrologer Noel Tyl.

Venus Retrograde often reflects early stresses around socializing with others and tensions around showing affection; Mars Retrograde can reflect issues around the internalization of anger, or difficulties around asserting the self, perhaps because these urges were repressed during childhood; Jupiter Retrograde may reflect early life experiences where the child didn’t feel adequately rewarded or was not made to feel special, so as an adult they will have to learn to actively ask for what they believe they deserve out of life.

For example, I have Retrograde Jupiter at the end of the first house / cusp of the second house in my chart. As an adult, I have had to consciously learn to value myself and feel deserving of the rewards due to me, in order to break a pattern of always having to settle for second best. Additionally, I believe that past life experiences have made me very wary of organized religion. However, as an adult in this life, I have developed an intellectual fascination with comparative religion alongside a strong and very personal faith in spirit.

Because Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, the generational planets, spend so much time Retrograde, many of us have at least one of these planets Retrograde. For this reason, I personally do not pay too much attention if one of these planets is Retrograde in a chart. Far more interesting, informative and useful is to look at the aspect measurements these planets make to the personal planets and Angles. This is where the real stories lie.

However, the Retrograde outer planet may echo of one of these ‘stories’. I will give you an example involving Uranus Retrograde, which we could say might reflect issues around the repression of independence and freedom of expression in the early home life. A client of mine with Moon, Venus and Mars in Aquarius clearly needs independence and emotional freedom, but when you consider that these Aquarius planets are on the MC (the MC-IC axis being the axis of parents) and that the Moon (representing mother) is in a tense 135 degree sesquiquadrate aspect to Uranus and Pluto, we see a clear suggestion of an individual with an issue around gaining freedom and independence from an early home life with a controlling mother. The fact that Uranus (the ruler of Aquarius) is Retrograde, is a brushstroke which supports this delineation, but not a major indication of the ‘story’ in itself. If the Retrograde Uranus had not been supported by these other factors, I would have disregarded it in my analysis of the birth chart.

As with everything in astrology, I always advocate the holistic view, which means that everything in the birth chart must be interpreted in relation to everything else. This is the synthesis point where astrology becomes an art or a spiritual practice.

For example, in all the above chart examples, the life situations described are also reflected in the aspects the Retrograde planet makes and/or elsewhere in the chart. The Retrograde planet seems to provide extra confirmation, an echo of these other factors, as in the Uranus Retrograde example. So, when you are interpreting any Retrograde planet in your own or another’s birth chart, please also consider the sign the planet is in, the house it occupies in the chart, the house the planet rules in the chart and of course, the aspect relationships it makes with other planets, angles and points in the chart, as well as looking at the other aspects in the chart.

For example, in my case, the self esteem, faith in self issues suggested by Jupiter Retrograde on the 2nd house cusp is an echo of the self esteem issues strongly suggested by the fact that Mercury, the ruler of the 2nd house (which symbolises self esteem), is in a tense T-Square aspect with Saturn, Chiron, Uranus and Pluto, dense energies indeed!

For a technical explanation of Retrograde click here>.

For Retrograde dates for 2010 click here>.

Mandi

Visit http://www.mandilockley.com/ for more astrology and details of personal consultations.

Retrograde Planets in Astrology Explained

[Updated Jan 13 '11]


A Simple Explanation of Station and Retrograde in Astrology

We all accept that the planets revolve around the Sun in continuous forward motion. However, astrology views the planets from our place here on planet Earth. From this perspective, it appears as if the planets sometimes slow down and stop. When a planet does this it is known as Station Retrograde. From this point the planet then appears to move backwards for a while. This is known as Retrograde (which is sometimes written as Rx). After a few days, weeks or months of doing this (the slower moving planets spend more time Retrograde than the faster planets), the Retrograde planet slows down and stops again, Stations Direct, after which it moves forwards again, Direct, and gradually gains momentum.

When a planet is Retrograde, it is said that the energies and urges the planet represent go inwards, slow down, come up for review, that old ground has to be re-covered and that unnecessary action should be delayed until the Retrograde period is over. The best known Retrograde is that of Mercury, famously symbolizing travel and communication delays, but all the other planets, with the exception of the Sun and Moon, also have Retrograde periods.

Click on this link for a discusion on Retrograde Planets the the Birth Chart
Click on this link for planetary Retrograde Dates for 2011

A Couple of Examples

Mercury Stationed Retrograde (slowed down and stopped) at 6 degrees of Libra on 6^th September 2009. Mercury was in Retrograde (moving backwards through the zodiac) from 8^th September. It moved backwards to the beginning of Libra and then right back to Virgo, the sign before Libra. It reached 21 degrees of Virgo and then Stationed Direct (slowed down and stopped) on 28^th September. On 1^st October it started moving forwards again (Direct), back again through the degrees of Virgo and Libra it had passed through while Retrograde. The next Mercury Retrograde starts at the end of December 2009 through to the middle of January.

For an explanation of what Mercury Retrograde means, please see the following blogs I wrote about the September 2009 Mercury Retrograde here> and here>.

Neptune is one of the slow outer planets. Further out in our solar system it takes a lot longer to revolve around the Sun than Mercury does. While Mercury takes around one year to make one revolution of the Sun, Neptune takes around 164 years, spending about 14 years in each Zodiac sign. It is therefore obvious that Neptune’s Retrogrades last longer than Mercury’s!

Here are details of the 2009 Neptune Retrograde: Neptune Stationed Retrograde (slowed down and stopped) at 26 degrees of Aquarius on 28^th May 2009. Neptune was in Retrograde (moving backwards through the zodiac) from 30^th May through to 4^th November 2009, when it Stationed Direct (slowed down and stopped). During its Retrograde period, it moved backwards to 23 degrees of Aquarius. As you can see, Neptune was Retrograde for a lot longer than Mercury (5 months vs. 3-4 weeks) and covered a lot less ground (3 degrees of the zodiac vs. 15 degrees of the zodiac)! On 6^th November 2009 Neptune started moving forwards again (Direct) and you can read my review of this Neptune Retrograde period here>.

Click on this link for a discusion on Retrograde Planets the the Birth Chart

Click on this link for planetary Retrograde Dates 2011

Mandi

http://www.mandilockley.com/