What happens when a planet is in retrograde motion?

Can you remember periods of the year when you feel like in a twilight area and you do not know why? It is quite possible for a planet to be retrograde – that is, viewed from the earth, it seems to spin in the opposite direction. What’s really going on? Well, Earth completes its orbit around the Sun faster than other planets outside its orbit.

Similarly, when a speeding machine passes a slower train, and so the train seems to stand or even move in reverse, as with retrograde planets.

A retrograde planet is more influential as it is closer to Earth.

 Let review the main stages of the retrograde movement of a planet:

Direct motion – the best time to act, especially if the planet is at home or exalted. If Moon is in waxing phase, it is even better.

The retrograde station – it is not the right time to act, you do not start any important activity, regardless of the domain.

Retrograde moving – Do not initiate new actions, just rethink, rectify, repair what has not gone out well in the past, is a good time for (re)planning and changing strategies.

The direct station – you are heating up for the actions you will start in the direct motion period, so a brief review of what you want to do would not hurt. If Moon is in waxing phase, it is even better.

As a rule, Moon and Sun have no retrograde motion, ever.

 In 2018 you have the following calendar of retrograde motions of planets:

MERCURY RETROGRADE IN ARIES:

Mercury in direct motion in Aries starting with 6 March 2018

Mercury in retrograde station in Aries starting with 22 March 2018

Mercury in retrograde motion in Aries starting with 24 March 2018

Mercury in direct station in Aries starting with 15 April 2018

Mercury in direct motion in Aries starting with 17 April 2018

MERCURY RETROGRADE IN LEO:

Mercury in direct motion in Leo starting with 29 June 2018

Mercury in retrograde station in Leo starting with 25 July 2018

Mercury in retrograde motion in Leo starting with 27 July 2018

Mercury in direct station in Leo starting with 18 August 2018

Mercury in direct motion in Leo starting with 20 August 2018

MERCURY RETROGRADE IN SAGITTARIUS AND SCORPIO:

Mercury in direct motion in Sagittarius starting with 31 October 2018

Mercury in retrograde station in Sagittarius starting with 16 November 2018

Mercury in retrograde motion in Sagittarius starting with 18 November 2018

Mercury in retrograde motion in Scorpio starting 2 December 2018

Mercury in direct station in Scorpio starting with 6 December 2018

Mercury in direct motion in Scorpio starting 8 December 2018

Mercury in direct motion in Sagittarius starting with 13 December 2018

During retrograde cycle of Mercury, communications (in any way), energy-consuming devices, but also thinking and logic can be affected. In general, what you want to convey is not understood or is totally wrong, and controversy can arise from here. The important transactions in these periods are good to be postponed, and if you cannot avoid signing of a contract or an important document, it is preferable to read the document very carefully. If you do not understand something, ask a specialist (lawyer, counsellor, accountant and so on). Postpone important decisions and do not launch business or new products. The affected zodiac signs are: Gemini and Virgo and in the signs where the planet is retrograde.

VENUS RETROGRADE IN SCORPIO AND LIBRA

Venus in direct motion in Scorpio starting with 10 September 2018

Venus in retrograde station in Scorpio starting with 5 October 2018

Venus in retrograde motion in Scorpio starting with 7 October 2018

Venus in retrograde motion in Libra starting with 1 November 2018

Venus in direct station in Libra starting with 16 November 2018

Venus in direct motion in Libra starting with 18 November 2018

Venus in direct motion in Scorpio starting with 3 December 2018

During retrograde cycle of Venus, it is preferable to avoid the following activities: marriages, starting a love affair, investing, taking and lending money, aesthetic surgeries.

The affected zodiac signs are: Taurus and Libra and in the zodiac where the planet is retrograde.

 MARS RETROGRADE IN AQUARIUS AND CAPRICORN

Mars in direct motion in Aquarius starting with 17 May 2018

Mars in retrograde station in Aquarius starting with 27 June 2018

Mars in retrograde motion in Aquarius starting with 29 June 2018

Mars in retrograde motion in Capricorn starting with 14 August 2018

Mars in direct station in Capricorn starting with 27 August 2018

Mars in direct motion in Capricorn starting with 29 August 2018

Mars in direct motion in Aquarius starting with 12 September 2018

Mars forms a complicated and dynamic square aspect with Uranus on May 16, repeated on August 1 and September 18. It is up to you to find new ways of expressing the Martian energy or to make unexpected changes that you have no control at all.

During this retrograde cycle of Mars, it is preferable to avoid extreme sports and events involving imprudent and risk-of-accident actions. Try not to respond to challenges of any kind during this period. Do not rush things, if you see obstacles in your actions, try to find constructive solutions to move forward. The more you resist the changes, the more you will have conflicts with others. Take more care of yourself and avoid surgery especially in the following areas: hips, thighs, femurs, blood vessels (arteries), sciatic nerve, pelvis, pituitary and liver, genital and excretory system, nose, ovary, bladder and the prostate. Also, male activities may encounter problems during the relegation period of Mars: everything related to cars, army, police and so on. The affected zodiac signs are: Aries and Scorpio and in the signs where the planet is retrograde.

JUPITER RETROGRADE IN SCORPIO

Jupiter in retrograde station in Scorpio starting with 8 March 2018

Jupiter in retrograde motion in Scorpio starting with 10 March 2018

Jupiter in direct station in Scorpio starting with 10 July 2018

Jupiter in direct motion in Scorpio starting with 12 July 2018

During this retrograde cycle of Jupiter, people tend to learn from their own experiences some faith-related lessons, and situations may arise when certain adjustments are required for some large-scale projects. If you are traveling during these times, try to organize your traveling better and do not panic if you lose your luggage. You will learn not to rely on the help of others and you will become more adaptable to reality. The affected signs are: Virgo, Sagittarius and Scorpio.

SATURN RETROGRADE IN CAPRICORN

Saturn in retrograde station in Capricorn starting with 17 April 2018

Saturn in retrograde motion in Capricorn starting with 19 April 2018

Saturn in direct station in Capricorn starting with 6 September 2018

Saturn in direct motion in Capricorn starting with 8 September 2018

During this retrograde cycle of Saturn, you will feel a slowdown or a jam in certain activities, it depends a lot on what home in the natal chart Saturn in transit, and if Saturn meets the personal planets, then the situation is personalized altogether. You will work harder, or you will make a bigger effort in making plans, and some adjustments or expansions are not excluded for better efficiency. Saturn usually requires a better organization or structure of information. Relationship with certain authorities is complicated, so any action, to be completed, requires patience and perseverance. And do not forget, Saturn demands fairness in everything you do! The affected signs are: Sagittarius and Capricorn.

URANUS RETROGRADE IN TAURUS AND ARIES

Uranus in retrograde station in Taurus starting with 7 August 2018

Uranus in retrograde motion in Taurus starting with 9 August 2018

Uranus retrograde motion in Aries starting with 7 November 2018

Uranus in direct station in Aries starting with 6 January 2019

Uranus in direct motion in Aries starting with 8 January 2019

Uranus in direct motion in Taurus starting with 6 March 2019

During this retrograde cycle of Uranus, it’s good to stay open to surprises of any kind. Uranus can cause extreme situations and chaos, but it can also bring memorable moments! A state of restlessness and a desire for change you may feel during this period, so it is good to have moments of self-analysis and see where these states start, and you will find out what you need to evolve to a new level. It is good to write down any idea will go through the head, how strange or absurd it would seem. It’s best to keep a diary. The affected zodiac signs are: Aries, Taurus and Aquarius.

NEPTUNE RETROGRADE IN PISCES

Neptune in retrograde station in Pisces starting with 18 June 2018

Neptune in retrograde motion in Pisces starting with 20 June 2018

Neptune in direct station in Pisces starting with 24 November 2018

Neptune in direct motion in Pisces starting with 26 November 2018

During this retrograde cycle of Neptune, you will become more sensitive to the environment and your intuition, inspiration and dreams will take up more of your personal time. It is good that during this period you will write down any idea or dream because you never know when you will use this information in real life. There are favoured artistic and esoteric activities. Take more care of your immune system. The affected sign is: Pisces.

PLUTO RETROGRADE IN CAPRICORN

Pluto in retrograde station in Capricorn starting with 22 April 2018

Pluto in retrograde motion in Capricorn starting with 24 April 2018

Pluto in direct station in Capricorn starting with 30 September 2018

Pluto in direct motion in Capricorn starting with 2 October 2018

During this retrograde cycle of Pluto, has a role of resetting an activity in your life and assuming a new beginning. Usually this change is harder as your resistance is higher. As the old Greeks called it Pantai rei (Everything Flows) people prefer to learn that life means a permanent change, which implies that flexibility and adaptability are the most important attitudes to change. And the Chinese, in their special alphabet, the word crisis has two interpretations: danger and opportunity, which means that in any crisis there is at least one opportunity for growth and learning. The affected signs are: Capricorn and Scorpio.

Use wisely regrades motions!

Monica Lazar

Astrologer