How Do You Interpret A Planet That's Retrograde in Your Birth Chart?: R:astrology

How do you interpret a planet that's retrograde in your birth chart?
: r/astrology 8/14/24, 12:04 PM
r/astrology • 1 day ago

Sunny_932
How do you interpret a planet

that's retrograde in your birth
chart?
Beginner
I’ve been reading about planets in retrograde and how
they can have a unique impact when they’re in your
natal chart. I’m curious – what’s your take on this? Do
you see it as a challenge, an opportunity, or something
else? Would love to hear your thoughts and
interpretations!
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ErisedFelicis • 1d ago • Edited 1d ago
I have Mercury Retrograde (and Combust) and

I'd say I experience it as a more internalised
Mercury. I'm not a very vocal person, I'm more
receptive and perceptive. More input than
output. Communication and small talk has
never come naturally to me. I also review and
go-over things in my mind to cement them and
confirm what I want to say. That process of
going back over material is very Mercury
Retrograde.
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How do you interpret a planet that's retrograde in your birth chart? : r/astrology 8/14/24, 12:04 PM
dosis_mtl • 22h ago
A lot of what you say is similar to my

approach. I hate small talk. I’m actually
quite productive during mercury
retrograde periods. My natal mercury is
retrograde in the 9H
9 Reply Award Share
extrabrightlight • 22h ago
Same here with the Mercury retrograde

and combust, and I very much resonate
with what you say about the reception-
perception focus, and less small talk.
I just want to add, I feel like I can
communicate well verbally when I have the
chance to think through well what I’m
about to say, and had time to gain a
certain level of knowlege of the subject. If
I have to improvise in speech, I really have
to make a conscoius effort to watch what
I’m saying, otherwise it can come out
awkward for other people I feel. I feel like I
do better with written communication,
where I have time to think things through, I
even have a tendency to get a bit verbose.
My Mercury is in its domicile in Gemini
though, so that probably mitigates the
retrogradation and being combust quite a
bit.
9 Reply Award Share
xpiotivaby • 18h ago
I have this too and omg thank you. This

comment is really insightful and helpful for
thinking about what it means, and this
description fits me very closely.
2 Reply Award Share
EeXiaolong • 12h ago
This is very me. Thank you

This is very me. Thank you
1 Reply Award Share
pixieok • 9h ago
I also have Mercury Rx in conjunction with

my Sun, and I agree with everything you
said. I have a total of 7 Rx placements in
my natal chart.
1 Reply Award Share
Stunning_Wonder6650 • 1d ago
One interpretation of retrograde that I like

(though not sure where it came from) is that
retrograde planets come online a bit later in life.
They begin as internalized functions and as we
mature and cultivate our relationships with the
planetary archetype, they manifest in a more
external form.
thePolarOx • 1m ago
Rising Moon Sun / NN / 12H & 4…
Let's hope so with these placements

(three 12th house planets retrograde -
Saturn, Uranus, Neptune)
1 Reply Award Share
5919821077131829 • 22h ago
This is basically planetary progressions.

My natal retrograde Mercury went direct
when I was 18 which coincided with not
being "shy" anymore. My retrograde Mars
goes direct in my 50s. I'll report back a
decade plus later when I find out what
changes in me.
Honey_Badgerette • 18h ago
How does one find out when a natal

How does one find out when a natal

retrograde planet goes direct?
4 Reply Award
5919821077131829 • 15h ago
I use astro-seek's secondary

progression calculator to check
mine.
6 Reply Award
Honey_Badgerette • 14h ago
Thanks for replying with

helpful info!
1 Reply Award
gr8lifelover • 17h ago
What does this mean, natal Rx planet

going direct? How does one see that
in a chart or ephemeris?
2 Reply Award
5919821077131829 • 15h ago
I use astro-seek's secondary

progression calculator to check
mine. Secondary progression is
a predictive technique where the
native's chart is moved
(progressed) forward by one day
for each year of their life. It gives
you a picture of who you are at
that point in your life because
humans aren't static beings and
evolve and shift with time.
Some people take it further and

check transits both for their
natal chart and progressed
chart.
In my case Mercury stationed

retrograde 2 days before I was
retrograde 2 days before I was

born thus I was born with a Rx
Mercury in my natal chart. 18
days after I was born Mercury
stationed direct so 18 years
after I was born my natal Rx
Mercury "went direct" and I
began to exhibit direct Mercury
traits.
Every planet moves at a

different pace in the sky so they
also progress at different rates
too. The sun moves 1⁰ each year
while the moon moves 1⁰ each
month (don't quote me on that
and double check it).
6 Reply Award
Hellolaoshi • 13h ago
The Sun will progress

approximately 1⁰ each year
is a progressions chart. The
Moon will take 28 or 29
days to complete a transit
of all the zodiac signs. In a
progressions chart, that
circular path takes 29
years. You get a progressed
lunar return at almost the
r/astrology Search in r/astrology Crea
same age that you get a
transitting Saturn return. COMMUNITY BOOKMARKS
3 Reply Award
Rules
5919821077… • 6h ago
FAQ
I don't really
understand why you Chart Readings Here
commented this?
The Sun will CURRENT TRANSITS

progress
approximately
approximately Mars Retrograde Infographic:

1⁰ each year is
https://www.reddit.com/r/astrology/comm
a progressions
ents/yhoqh9/mars_retrograde_infographi
chart.
c_8_to_25_degrees_in/
That's what I said? My Mercury Retrograde Infographic:

entire comment is on https://www.reddit.com/r/astrology/comm
secondary ents/zmrzi7/mercury_rx_infographic_cap
progressions. ricorn_dec_29_2022_to/
The Moon will

RULES
take 28 or 29
days to Don’t post to ask questions
complete a or share about your chart
transit of all the 1
placements or personal
zodiac signs. In situations.
a progressions
chart, that This means your chart, a friend's
circular path or family member's chart,
takes 29 years. synastry charts, etc. Charts of
You get a public figures are allowed of you
progressed make an effort to direct
lunar return at
almost the
same age that
you get a
transitting
Saturn return.
Also aware of these

and my comment
doesn't contradict it.
1⁰ a month = 12⁰ a year
= 360⁰ in 30 years
a.k.a. a progressed
lunar return around
late 20s similar to a
Saturn return
1 Reply Award
Wow, thank you! That

Wow, thank you! That

makes so much sense now.
Okay so please check math
if you would: my natal Rx
Mars is at 0° conjunct my
ascendant. Mars went
direct nine days later. So I’d
have been nine years old
and should have exhibited
more direct Mars energy at
that time. I have no
recollection of that time in
my life. However, as I look
forward in the ephemeris,
Mars in its continued direct
movement hit my natal
Mars 17 days after I was
born and at the age 17, I do
have a very vivid memory
of standing up for my mom
and letting loose on my
older sister physically (I’ve
never done this since and it
was completely out of
character for me at that
time. I was a very shy and
mild mannered kid). Have
you ever noticed that kind
of correlation to Mars’
action based upon what I’m
now realizing would have
been my first Mars return?
2 Reply Award
SapphireSha… • 6h ago
It should I think. Mars

conjunct ascendant… I
don’t know your
houses or signs *~in
which case I am
incorrect, my
information is
outdated or incorrect,
outdated or incorrect,
your chart balances it
out, we’re referencing
different chart types,
and/or you are a more
developed sign, all of
which are likely~ * but
beyond that instance
with your family did
you have issues
standing up for
yourself and your
beliefs or getting help
from the outside?
Needing to do it
internally to avoid
confrontation (or
delays/ subconscious
intentional blockage)?
Inclusive of perhaps
fighting yourself in
some manner?
Perhaps around age 9

you simply don’t
remember how you
may have been
blocked or
responded? For a child
that can be many
things that are
extremely important,
especially if you were
surrounded by older
authority figures. It’s
extremely likely you’d
downplay what may
have been quite a
significant event later
in life.
*These are
theoretical/rhetorical
questions which you
questions which you

can ask yourself if you
think it might help. I
absolutely do not
expect you to reply to
me about your
personal life,
especially in that
aspect.
2 Reply Award
Confident_Ad_9246 • 23h ago
I would strongly advise assigning negative

connotations towards retrogrades--remember
that retrogradation is more about perspective
rather than any actual reverse motion (the
planets all have proper direct motion).
Retrogrades of inner planets affect the self--

the normally expressive energies of a planet are
turned inward. If Mercury is retrograde in a
birth chart it doesn't necessarily indicate
problems with communication insofar as it
might indicate finding the right time and place
to speak up or communicate on something.
Mars retrograde indicates a refusal to deal with
healthy conflict, but it can also indicate a deep
desire to resolve inner conflicts with the self
and especially in relationships.
The larger transcendental planets move slower

naturally, so these bear little overall on the self,
and as such one should be careful in
interpreting their influences individually on
someone. I once heard an amateur astrologer
say that Uranus retrograde is a hallmark for
pedophiles, which is not at all the case for
many people born with this planetary
placement.
DescriptionFancy4327 • 1d ago
DescriptionFancy4327 • 1d ago
Having a placement in retrograde may make it

harder for you to see the benefits of that
placement because the retrograde throws it off
course.
Think of it like you’re walking through the forest

and you reach a fork in the road. To your left is
a straight and narrow path and to your right is a
zig-zagged path. Both paths lead in the same
direction and end up in the same place, but one
is evidently more easier to travel down than the
other. So, two people can have the same exact
placement in the same house and sign, but
person A who’s placement is in retrograde is
taking the zig-zagged path which makes it
more difficult for them to catch up to person B
because they have extra challenges they need
to face.
For example, my natal Jupiter is retrograde in

the 2nd house so this placement can be
indicative of easily obtainable financial success
and luck in areas of business and finance. But,
because it’s in retrograde, I might struggle to
achieve this financial success more than
other’s who have this placement not in
retrograde. So, I might acquire debt or struggle
with employment for a bit before reaching the
peak of my financial success. Whereas other
people with this planet not in retrograde may
never have to go through those same
disadvantages.
Great explanation, thank you!
2 Reply Award Share
love_briyah • 22h ago
Planets in retrograde present a chance to

Planets in retrograde present a chance to

address and cleanse any old wounding and
lessons unlearned. It’s like an option for a deep
Spring Cleaning. If in your natal chart, I would
posit that it’s an opportunity to unwind and
release old wounding and improper actions
from past/parallel lives.
5 Reply Award Share
hawaiianpizza4thewin • 20h ago
I must’ve had a doozy of a past life

because I have several planets retrograde
including Saturn which is in my 1st house
3 Reply Award Share
Excellent-Win6216 • 14h ago
How has that placement affected

you?
1 Reply Award
love_briyah • 5h ago
And now you have the opportunity to

clean it up.
1 Reply Award
[deleted] • 21h ago
TarotCatDog • 20h ago
These texts were really helpful to me in

addressing karma and retrogrades. I have
retrograde Mercury, Mars, Uranus and Neptune
as well as my chart ruler Pluto stationing to
retrograde.
Retrograde Planets and Reincarnation, Donald

Yost, isbn 0877283672.
Karmic Astrology Vol. II, Retrogrades and

Karmic Astrology Vol. II, Retrogrades and

Reincarnation, Martin Schulman, isbn
0877283451.
5 Reply Award Share
So would you posit from what you’ve read

that retrogrades are equated with past
lives? Such an interesting idea to
contemplate. Would you mind expanding
on this?
1 Reply Award Share
astrologerson • 22h ago
It depends where the planet is and where it is

going. Mercury in the beginning of Cancer,
going back to Gemini can be a good thing,
because he is returning to its own domicile.
4 Reply Award Share
5919821077131829 • 21h ago
It just is for me. I don't see it as a challenge or

an opportunity. It is just a fact of life. I have a Rx
Mercury and a Rx Mars in my chart. I believe
those two and Venus are the only retrogrades
that affect you personally while the outer Rx
planets are more general life related.
Rx Mercury made me quiet, almost shy. It took

me a while to warm up on play dates and I
wouldn't talk much in school. It went direct in
my progressed chart when I turned 18 and
people noticed. I talked more in different
settings with people I'm not close to and
strangers. The unease and discomfort I felt
when doing so previously disappeared pretty
fast.
Rx Mars (still Rx) made me dislike competition.
It's a huge turn off, I only compete with myself

(even then sometimes I don't care to). Another
thing is that I'm slow to act/not spontaneious. I
like to think about all possible outcomes and
courses of actions before doing things. Not low
stakes/daily stuff but with things that involve
other people or material amount of money.
I'd guess a Rx Venus could manifest as

connecting to loved ones in more subtle ways
or expressing love more quietly?
To actually answer your question, I interpret

them as probably more internally expressed
than if they were direct but neither as a
challenge or opportunity.
4 Reply Award Share
peaches-andtrees • 18h ago
I also have Rx Mars (in Libra might I add

) and couldn’t have said it better.
Always contemplating different outcomes,

performing a cost-benefit analysis before
taking any action. Only competition is
myself. Simple daily decisions are usually
easy, based on instinct, but bigger life
decisions that involve drastic change are
really difficult. It’s like my default mode is
inaction, staying the same, living in my
comfort zone, remaining neutral. Always
the peacemaker, rarely instigating conflict,
aiming for harmonious balance in all things
4 Reply Award Share
giovannijoestar • 1d ago
Both planets that are in retrograde for me

(Saturn and Jupiter) definitely cause issues in
my chart, but I don’t think it’s just the Rx that’s
making them cause issues. I’m pretty sure the
aspects and placements are more important, at

least for my chart.
7 Reply Award Share
kuntorcunt • 23h ago • Edited 20h ago
I have mercury retrograde and it seems that my

way of communicating and thinking is very
internal. I have a strong internal dialogue that is
fluid. However I struggle with communication
that is external like speaking out loud or
writing. I tend to have to do spelling errors or
mix up the order of words, or sometimes talk to
fast and have a hard time being understood. It’s
like the communication gets jammed once it is
processed outwards.
7 Reply Award Share
lifeofemandarty • 20h ago
Saturn was retrograded in Pisces when I was

born, in my 4th house.
My partner and I have interpreted the

retrograde part specifically as the fact that I
have had a difficult time setting boundaries
throughout my life, especially when it has come
to family.
2 Reply Award Share
sun827 • 20h ago
Jupiter, north node and Chiron all retrograde in

my chart.
2 Reply Award Share
Sea-Razzmatazz-4702 • 19h ago
my MM has 6 retrograde planets! 2,6,7,8 house.

Dude is a mess but
2 Reply Award Share
kirene22 • 19h ago
I have Venus retrograde in Gemini in house 11

and only noticed this recently.
I’ve had several astrological readings in my life

and none have mentioned this.
Searching online gives dismal prospects for

Venus retrograde without much detail.
I will say that I’m a female and have had

problematic relationships with men my whole
life, starting with my dad and that it feels like
I’m going to school in life to learn about self
love and value and receptivity and my
relationship to myself and men.
I also have mars in Gemini in 11 house and very

stunned in my masculine, tend to attract men
who want me to provide for them?!??
I feel the retrograde as where I’m going to

school in life but no idea if this is correct
interpretation.
2 Reply Award Share
Intelligent-Ad9582 • 17h ago • Edited 17h ago
Retrogression actually increases the brightness

of a planet so it's added power. In vedic
astrology brightness is important so planets
that are more directly opposite to the sun
(which makes them brighter) and retrogression
increases influence. As to whether the
influence is good or bad depends on the dignity
of the placement. Didn't you notice people are
more aggressive or motivated during Mars
retrograde or that something's always up with
communication-related stuff during Mercury
retrograde? And speaking of brightness, during
retrograde? And speaking of brightness, during

full moons, isn't it that our natural
temperaments are a bit heightened? Like how
romantic people feel more romantic while crazy
people are a little more crazy.
Btw I have mercury retrograde and I credit

some of my sharpness to this. Of course having
a domicile benefic on my 5th is probably the
best indicator of intelligence but it doesn't hurt
that my retrograde mercury is in my 1st.
2 Reply Award Share
Expensive-Break1168 • 1d ago
I don’t have any but for people who do have

them they’re typically challenges
2 Reply Award Share
treesdrinkingcoffee • 20h ago
I’m a beginner in astrological understanding,

but have Saturn, Uranus and Neptune all Rx in
my third house and all close together. Still am
looking for interpretations so commenting to
keep track of the thread! In my life I’ve had a lot
of difficulty with communication. I have a ton of
mental energy, many internal conversations,
imagining potential conflicts if I speak up about
something, I love to write and share ideas with
others but also have fears around being
perceived as not knowing enough or saying the
wrong thing, and just being “witnessed” in
general.
1 Reply Award Share
Mammoth_Row1964 • 18h ago
Same!
1 Reply Award Share
terrytate860 • 17h ago

terrytate860 • 17h ago
I really liked what Nick Dagan best said once -

about how retrograde planets are declaring
their significations in the sky. In my experience,
that resonates somewhat more than them
having an “internalized” quality, though that’s
also true. I have Mars in Cancer retrograde and
out of bounds in my 2nd house. It represents a
tendency for me to hold anger in a way that
exhausts me emotionally and physically. But for
a weak Mars, I’m an incredibly ambitious and
precise kind of person. Could have to do with
the tribe to the MC, but I think it has more to do
with the fact that its retrogradation gives me a
considerable amount of staying power. My big
challenge is releasing anger and not holding
onto things.
1 Reply Award Share
UnapologeticallyWet • 14h ago
I have Venus retrograde in Scorpio. I’ve always

struggled with relationships but none more so
than my relationship with myself. Venus is my
chart ruler. It’s interesting, for sure, but also
incredibly healing depending on one’s
perspective.
1 Reply Award Share
giomvi • 13h ago
I’m a Gemini rising and I have my Mercury

retrograde in Aquarius so I had to learn to
master Mercury energy. I’m a published author,
I’ve been on tv and now I’m a content creator. I
love to speak and be heard. I’m very extra lol.
1 Reply Award Share
DruidWonder • 12h ago
The general consensus in the astrology

community is that, in natal astrology,
retrograde planets are more internalized and
subdued. The planets effects are less worldly
and more personal/private.
It is different than transit astrology.
1 Reply Award Share
Gemini_Moon369 • 3h ago
This is such an interesting topic.. Ive been

studying my birth chart for almost 3 years now
and JUST recently learned that my natal Jupiter
is retrograde AND my natal chiron is
retrograde. Still need to look more into this! But
great question.
1 Reply Award Share

How Do You Interpret A Planet That's Retrograde in Your Birth Chart?: R:astrology

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How Do You Interpret A Planet That's Retrograde in Your Birth Chart?: R:astrology

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How do you interpret a planet that's retrograde in your birth chart?

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r/astrology • 1 day ago

How do you interpret a planet

Sort by: Best Search Comments

ErisedFelicis • 1d ago • Edited 1d ago

I have Mercury Retrograde (and Combust) and

61 Reply Award Share

dosis_mtl • 22h ago

A lot of what you say is similar to my

9 Reply Award Share

extrabrightlight • 22h ago

Same here with the Mercury retrograde

9 Reply Award Share

xpiotivaby • 18h ago

I have this too and omg thank you. This

2 Reply Award Share

EeXiaolong • 12h ago

This is very me. Thank you

This is very me. Thank you

1 Reply Award Share

I also have Mercury Rx in conjunction with

1 Reply Award Share

One interpretation of retrograde that I like

27 Reply Award Share

Let's hope so with these placements

1 Reply Award Share

5919821077131829 • 22h ago

This is basically planetary progressions.

11 Reply Award Share

Honey_Badgerette • 18h ago

How does one find out when a natal

How does one find out when a natal

5919821077131829 • 15h ago

I use astro-seek's secondary

Honey_Badgerette • 14h ago

Thanks for replying with

gr8lifelover • 17h ago

What does this mean, natal Rx planet

5919821077131829 • 15h ago

I use astro-seek's secondary

Some people take it further and

In my case Mercury stationed

retrograde 2 days before I was

Every planet moves at a

Hellolaoshi • 13h ago

The Sun will progress

The Sun will CURRENT TRANSITS

approximately Mars Retrograde Infographic:

That's what I said? My Mercury Retrograde Infographic:

The Moon will

Also aware of these

gr8lifelover • 14h ago

Wow, thank you! That

Wow, thank you! That

It should I think. Mars

Perhaps around age 9

questions which you

Confident_Ad_9246 • 23h ago

I would strongly advise assigning negative

Retrogrades of inner planets affect the self--

The larger transcendental planets move slower

19 Reply Award Share

Having a placement in retrograde may make it

Think of it like you’re walking through the forest

For example, my natal Jupiter is retrograde in

20 Reply Award Share

gr8lifelover • 17h ago

Great explanation, thank you!

2 Reply Award Share

love_briyah • 22h ago

Planets in retrograde present a chance to

Planets in retrograde present a chance to

5 Reply Award Share

hawaiianpizza4thewin • 20h ago

I must’ve had a doozy of a past life