posted March 01, 2005 01:24 AM
Charles Asks:“Do planets in retrograde motion in a natal chart possibly mean that the person goes over and over the same ground or interests again and again?”
Kevin Answers:
Charles,
Retrograde planets in natal charts are a bit different than retrograde planets in transit. When we experience transiting retrogrades, they most certainly can tie in with situations that we have to deal with again and again (usually three times, one for each time the planet transits an area of our charts). But natal retrograde planets don’t move nearly as quickly (they do move by progression, and we’ll get to that), and aren’t experienced in the same way.
Before we get too far into the interpretations, let’s make sure that everyone understands exactly what a retrograde planet is. Because we track the movements of the planets as they orbit the Sun based on our observations from Earth (in other words, we take a geocentric view and pretend that the Earth is the center of the Universe), and because the Earth is itself also orbiting the Sun, most of the planets periodically appear to slow down and change direction, moving backwards through the signs for a time. The Sun never goes retrograde, because we are orbiting the Sun; the Moon never goes retrograde, because the Moon actually orbits the Earth. The inferior planets (Mercury and Venus, so called because their orbit is in between the Earth’s and the Sun’s) go retrograde for different reasons than the superior planets (Mars through Pluto, so called because their orbits are beyond the Earth’s orbit). Rather than trying to explain the mechanics of retrograde motion, let’s just agree that it’s an optical illusion, and that the planets don’t really slow down and change direction in their orbits around the Sun.
While almost all astrologers will agree that retrograde planets behave differently than planets in direct motion, the consensus falls apart when you try interpret just exactly what retrograde planets mean in a natal chart. The most popular interpretations seem to be:
Retrograde planets have difficulty expressing outwardly, and focus their energy internally.
Retrograde planets represent past life or karmic issues that relate to the planet in question.
I’ve seen many variations on these two themes, but overall, they seem to cover the most popular approaches to retrograde interpretations.
I’ve got another theory about retrograde planets, though. I feel that planets in direct motion are concerned with issues of growth, while planets in retrograde motion are concerned with issues of evolution. What’s the difference between the two? Well, growth cycles can be accomplished within the span of an individual lifetime. Evolution cycles, on the other hand, take many lifetimes to complete.
I began to explore this theory when I started to work extensively with the Moon’s Nodes. The Moon’s Nodes most certainly have to do with evolutionary issues: in a sense, they help to connect our past life experiences and lessons with our path in this lifetime. And the Moon’s Nodes spend most of the time in retrograde motion. The only other component of astrology that follows the retrograde motion through the signs, is the precession of the equinoxes and the Great Ages of mankind. I think we can all agree that the Great Ages, which last approximately 2,000 years each, relate to the evolution of our species.
Another key point about retrograde planets is that when a planet is retrograde, it is at the point in its orbit when it is the closest to the Earth. During transiting retrograde cycles, we have the opportunity to truly access and understand the nature and lessons of the retrograde planet, if we are only willing to listen. And the lessons that we can learn during a planet’s retrograde period, when truly understood and applied, often allow us to make small evolutionary leaps and break out of our current growth cycle and move onto the next one.
I’m still exploring this approach, although I’ve been very excited about how well it’s seemed to work for me so far. When I look at a natal retrograde planet (and here, I focus mainly on Mercury, Venus and Mars, since the other planets are retrograde so much of the time), I generally take it to mean that the individual is working with that planet on a different level than most of us; they are trying to learn evolutionary lessons, and these don’t always sit well with the daily cycles of growth. Since evolutionary energy is about breaking out of the current growth cycle, it can be difficult to integrate at times. Individuals with natal retrograde planets have a different, and very personal experience of that planet, and it’s not always easy for them to communicate this.
Now, the thing about our natal charts, and about retrograde planets in our natal charts, is that our charts do gradually change. Most of us will experience at least one planet changing direction in our charts by secondary progression (a symbolic process that takes each day to be the equivalent of one year of life). Individuals born with Mercury retrograde, for example, will most likely experience a shift at some point in their lives, when Mercury goes direct by progression. For many people, this represents a key time in their lives when things seem to "click" for them on an intellectual level. Suddenly, they feel able to communicate and express themselves in a more open and conventional manner, to share what they have learned under Mercury Retrograde. And because Mercury goes retrograde several times a year, individuals born with Mercury direct in their charts, may experience the opposite: Mercury going retrograde by progression, signaling a time in their lives when they may experience significant changes in the way that they communicate with others, and make sense of the world.
http://therealastrology.com/HTML/ASKKEVIN/990223f.html
Lindaland
UBBFriend: Email This Page to Someone! 
posted March 01, 2005 01:24 AM
posted March 01, 2005 01:32 AM
