Planets in Retrograde in the Natal Chart

Retrograde Mercury

Mercury retrograde lasts for about 24 days and typically occurs three times a year. Most often, this retrograde phase activates external factors and situations that impact the native’s actions and experiences, rather than stimulating inner strengths and urges. This is precisely what can lead to frustration, delays, difficulties, and sudden last-minute changes of plans. It is not the best time for making important decisions, signing documents, or entering into agreements that involve long-term commitments. Minor but irritating disruptions and holdups are likely, especially in matters related to communications and transportation.

Other minor issues and inconveniences may involve car repairs, telephone malfunctions, miscommunications, mail delays, postponed deliveries, breakdowns, or unexpected cancellations and last-minute changes of plans or conditions. It is possible that the native will need to review and correct mistakes made in the past. However, this period is actually favorable for mental work, research, editing, reviewing, and proofreading already completed written projects. It is also beneficial for meditation, deep self-analysis, and various types of psychological practices. All new ventures and projects should be meticulously planned down to the smallest details, but it is best not to proceed until all outstanding matters have been properly addressed and completed.

Retrograde Venus

The retrograde phase of Venus lasts about 42 days and occurs approximately every eighteen months. Notably, this period has a significant effect on the native’s personal and romantic life, influencing romantic impulses, attractiveness, emotional responses, personal values and perceptions, as well as relationships with partners. This phase can also be connected to psychological attitudes toward current financial status and personal possessions. During this time, it is generally not recommended to get married, initiate divorce proceedings, enter into business partnerships, or make major career moves and start new projects. Since Venus also rules finances, it may not be the best period for major purchases or financial investments. On the other hand, this is a favorable time to review all existing relationships and connections and to determine their true value before making decisions that involve lasting commitments. It is also an opportune period for balancing future financial matters and expenditures.

Retrograde Mars

Mars retrograde lasts for about 80 days and occurs every two years. During this period, it may seem as though new ideas and plans yield the opposite results, happen at the wrong time, develop too slowly, or never come to fruition. It is not a favorable time to begin activities that require significant initiative, bold action, risky undertakings, or sustained physical effort. Challenging situations may arise, but it is important to maintain your energy and focus on tasks that have previously been neglected or left unfinished. During this more difficult period, health disturbances may occur due to involuntary outbursts, irritability, impatience, frustration, or tension. There is an increased risk of inflammation, abrasions, burns, cuts, or injuries from sudden accidents. Nevertheless, this phase is ideal for planning important projects or reviewing and refining ongoing projects to bring them to successful completion. When used constructively, this period provides an opportunity for working through your actions and reclaiming what is truly important to you.

Retrograde Jupiter

Jupiter’s retrograde motion lasts for about four months and usually occurs once a year. This period tends to influence the native’s character and relationships more than specific events or situations. While it is not the best time for relocating, business trips, long journeys abroad, or finalizing major financial and legal deals, it can be an advantageous period for deepening spiritual or philosophical practices. Understanding that inner knowledge is accessed from higher consciousness, it is important to consider that it also influences intellectual activity. Pay attention to the House in the natal chart through which Jupiter is moving to understand its beneficial effects. Strong faith in oneself is likely, though sociability and overall optimism may be subdued. When Jupiter turns direct, new relationships may develop that influence your social advancement. If Jupiter is under stressful aspects, enthusiasm may be excessive, leading to overestimation of your abilities.

Retrograde Saturn

The retrograde phase of Saturn lasts about four and a half months each year. Saturn’s influence slows down ongoing activities, providing an opportunity to focus on developing effective plans and methods that will lead to success after the retrograde ends. Large-scale and long-term endeavors or expectations may experience delays, unforeseen difficulties, and setbacks. Unexpected obligations and problems may arise, requiring time and energy to resolve old or unfinished matters—these must be dealt with before further progress can be made. Commitments already undertaken should be fulfilled with patience, endurance, and inner composure. Saturn teaches the native to slow down, pause, and become more thorough and organized. This is not the best time to change careers or try to alter your social status, but it is a favorable period for making adjustments to current activities. It is unwise to actively seek new obligations, as fulfilling them may take much longer than anticipated. Ongoing conscious development of your emotional state and inner world during this time will greatly support your psychological resilience in the future.

Retrograde Uranus

The retrograde phase of Uranus lasts about 155 days each year. Its influence on the native should be considered according to the House it transits in the natal chart and the aspects it forms. The most noticeable effects of retrograde Uranus are sudden events and disruptions in the House it occupies, which tend to overturn routines and cancel existing plans. Retrograde Uranus prompts reflection on the need for personal freedom and self-expression, especially if these needs have not been met.

Retrograde Uranus can also stimulate intuitive processes, leading the native to discover new forms of self-expression and greater enlightenment. Even if no external changes are apparent, there can be an intense, indescribable inner experience, after which it becomes impossible to see life as before. When Uranus changes direction, strange incidents may occur, often defying analysis or explanation. The best way to adapt to this period is to explore the deeper processes beneath the surface—those previously ignored—and examine them objectively “in the light of day.” Retrograde Uranus can offer tremendous spiritual opportunities, but only if you are honest with yourself and ready to recognize them in your life.

Retrograde Neptune

Neptune’s retrograde motion lasts about 158 days and occurs once a year. Its primary influence is most noticeable in the House it transits in the natal chart. Because Neptune is associated with all that is subtle and elusive, it can be difficult to physically identify all planetary aspects that should be considered in the analysis. Much of this phase is understood mainly on a theoretical level and through intuition, and can only be grasped individually on a deep, inner level while you are in this period. Retrograde Neptune brings unresolved issues and circumstances from the past (even from previous lifetimes), which can alter your emotional and psychological state. It can influence deep, often hidden feelings within. Try to be more contemplative; by understanding the nature of these feelings, you can gain control over them. Due to Neptune’s elusive nature, other structures may gradually weaken and lose stability, even if this is not immediately visible externally. To understand this, you must look deep within yourself for answers. Only then will you recognize the emotionally neglected parts of yourself in need of care and compassion. However, it may take several phases to truly understand your inner nature.

Retrograde Pluto

Pluto’s retrograde motion occurs once a year and lasts about 160 days. Typically, its influence is concentrated in the House it is transiting, but due to its slow movement, its impact may not always be immediately apparent. Pluto affects the deepest and most subconscious levels of the mind and psyche, which makes its influence difficult to detect at first glance. By putting a halt to external development in the House it is passing through, Pluto forces the native to focus on areas that have not been fully regenerated during the last transit cycles. The more consciously aware you become, the less painful and stressful each retrograde phase of Pluto will be. All that you thought you had mastered—those unresolved issues and matters from the past that have troubled you for some time—will resurface, seeking to be worked through psychologically when they reappear on your path. Pluto is only concerned with whether you have integrated these matters and transformed them to higher levels of existence.

From an objective point of view, this period may offer opportunities—depending on which House is involved in the retrograde phase—to step outside the familiar and identify obvious solutions previously overlooked, which can now help you move toward your goal in this well-studied area. During this time, pay special attention to discipline, emotional self-control, and managing desires. This is an excellent period for self-exploration, revealing new facets of your inner self, and recognizing the need for rebirth. Retrograde Pluto stimulates the identification of weaknesses and the development of abilities. If you do not focus on developing your potential during this period, it will not be possible to discover your true capabilities.  ✓

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