The retrograde path of a planet is apparent. In other words, that is how it appears from Earth. These planets never really make the turns we see as we chart their movements, but the relative position we see from Earth makes them seem to be going backward in the sky.

Astrologers have learned that when this happens, the nature of their energy changes. Some more and some not as obviously.

Mercury retrograde is the one we hear about most, because it is the one that is very obviously a change. Mercury goes retrograde three times a year. You can count on those times being a bit different, upset perhaps, in the mercury areas of communications and mental acuity. And in communications you can add your phone and computer to the normal areas of simply speaking and listening. It is not a time to sign contracts. Travel is a bit difficult and disrupted.

All the planets have a retrograde period except the lights (Sun and Moon).

The outer planets seem to be in retrograde more often, so their retrograde motion is more familiar, but you can feel the energy at the stations, which are the points where the retrograde begins and ends.

The Shadow of the retrograde are the areas where the planet enters the space where it will later retrograde to, and the space from the station where it turns direct to the area it has already traveled before the retrograde.

The energy of the retro gradually increases from the point in direct motion where the retrograde will end until it gets to the station where the retrograde motion begins and gradually dissipates as it goes from the station where the planet goes direct again to the point where the retrograde motion began.

Normally these are not terribly disruptive. But if you have a planet in your natal (birth) chart in the area the retrograde is crossing, it can be quite a potent force.

Mercury Retrogrades 2006

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