posted September 10, 2015 10:36 AM            

The main phases are: pre-shadow; retrograde station; *the actual retrograde phase*, direct station; post-shadow.

The phases are explained here, in reference to Mercury retrogrades: http://www.powerfullight.com/Astrologer-Miami/mobile/mobile-Mercury-Retrograd e-Calendar-Dates.htm

I have a theory that the strongest (most strongly felt) periods are the days around the retrograde station - and the direct station. People usually look forward to the date the planet goes direct only to experience something very negative on -or around- that exact date (mainly if the transit was significant to their particular chart).
Have you ever noticed this?

I actually thought about creating a thread on this for some time, and something else always came up.

But in the past couple of days there were two, very disturbing and completely unexpected, murders on the news (in Australia). Both involved a male ex boyfriend/partner murdering the woman he was once in a relationship with - and then attempting to also kill himself.
This kind of news is uncommon in Australia (considering our strict gun laws) - so having two such events in a row is even stranger.
This coincides with the Venus direct station... and I somehow doubt it's mere coincidence :/
Also, both murders seemed to be unplanned, passion-killings.